Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, has confirmed that the Israel-Hamas truce has started, and attacks have ceased.

“We are witnessing a relative calm, that is gradually becoming more and more visible as there is a complete stop of fighter jets flying over the Gaza Strip,” Mahmoud said.

“But the hours preceding the ceasefire becoming effective were the bloodiest for Palestinians living in northern parts, Gaza City, and all the way to the southern parts — the safe areas designated by the Israeli military for people to move to avoid getting bombed in the north,” he told Al Jazeera.