In pictures: Gaza falls silent as three-day truce holds

A Palestinian woman wipes her face in her damaged home after returning to Beit Hanoun town. Finbarr O’Reilly / Reuters

A general view shows destruction in part of the northern Beit Hanun district. Marco Longari / AFP Photo

A Palestinian man sits outside his destroyed house in Beit Hanoun. Oliver Weiken / EPA

Palestinians sit on the remains of their destroyed homes after returning. Finbarr O’Reilly / Reuters

A Palestinian woman searches for her belongings in the Shejaia neighbourhood. Mohammed Salem / Reuters

Palestinians look at destroyed houses after returning to the Shejaia neighbourhood. Mohammed Salem / Reuters

The Egypt-brokered ceasefire, agreed between Israel and Hamas-led militant groups, began at 8am. Both sides agreed to refrain from fighting and hold indirect talks in Cairo on a permanent truce. Oliver Weiken / EPA

Palestinians sit next to their destroyed house after returning to the Shejaia neighbourhood. Mohammed Salem / Reuters

Gaza fell silent Tuesday after a month of intense combat between Israel and Hamas, as a 72-hour truce came into effect, giving Gazans time to take stock of their battered neighbourhoods.