Even before the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was fully in place, Palestinians in the war-battered Gaza Strip began to return to the remains of the homes they had evacuated during the 15-month war.

The dramatic images of uniform-clad supporters of the Palestinian militant Hamas celebrating the release of the first three Israeli hostages leave Abdullah Abdel Aal unmoved. The 45-year-old, who has lost 40 family members in the Gaza war,