An explosion was seen on the Gaza skyline from southern Israel early on Sunday morning ahead of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas which is set to begin, pausing the devastating 15-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group in the Gaza Strip.

The cease-fire between Hamas and Israel will go into effect at 8:30 a.m. local time, mediator Qatar announced Saturday, as families of hostages held in Gaza braced for news of loved ones, Palestinians prepared to receive freed detainees and humanitarian groups rushed to set up a surge of aid.