In photos: Israelis welcome the ceasefire deal announcement

Thousands of jubilant Israelis gathered in a Tel Aviv square on Thursday, hopeful for the return of captives held in Gaza, after two years of fear and worry. 

Many wore stickers reading "They're coming back", waving Israeli and US flags and clutching photos of the captives, after Israel and Hamas reached a captive-prisoner exchange and truce deal in a major step towards ending Israel's war on Gaza. 

"We have been waiting for this day for 734 days. We cannot imagine being anywhere else this morning," said Laurence Ytzhak, 54, a Tel Aviv resident.

"It's a great joy – an immense relief mixed with anxiety, fear and sorrow for the families who haven't and won't get to experience this joy," he said.