Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Gaza’s Khan Younis, says Palestinians are rejoicing the moments following the Israel-Hamas four-day truce.

“But the hours that preceded the truce announcement were full of intensified Israeli bombing across the Gaza Strip. During these hours several attacks took place in Rafah and Khan Younis city in the south of the Gaza Strip. And artillery shelling did not stop, particularly in the north of the Strip,” Abu Azzoum said.

“Now the sky over the Gaza Strip has become clear of Israeli drones. This is the first time that we have not heard Israeli drones since the beginning of this round of fighting.

“People sense that there is a glimmer of hope that this short-term pause will pave the way for a longer ceasefire,” he told Al Jazeera.