Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians are returning to the ruins of their homes in northern Gaza following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which marks the first phase of a broader peace agreement brokered with the involvement of US President Donald Trump.
The Israeli military has begun a partial withdrawal from the enclave, allowing many families to re-enter devastated areas for the first time in months.
According to UN estimates, nearly three-quarters of buildings in Gaza City have been damaged or destroyed during the prolonged conflict, leaving vast stretches of the north in ruins.
While the ceasefire has brought a temporary halt to the violence, the atmosphere remains tense.
President Trump confirmed that Israeli hostages held in Gaza are expected to be released on Monday.
“Hamas is gathering the Israeli hostages now,” he said, adding that he remains confident the agreement will hold. As part of the deal, Israel is set to release approximately 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza.
The ceasefire has also prompted urgent humanitarian calls. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has demanded that all crossings into Gaza be opened immediately, noting that 6,000 aid trucks are on standby, ready to deliver critical supplies within hours.
Meanwhile, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) have issued a joint statement rejecting any form of foreign administration over Gaza.
Officials in the territory are also calling for an independent, international probe into alleged war crimes and genocide committed during Israel’s military campaign.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 67,211 people have been killed and 169,961 wounded since Israel’s offensive began in October 2023. In Israel, the October 7 attacks claimed 1,139 lives, with around 200 individuals taken hostage.
As civilians cautiously return to shattered neighbourhoods, the humanitarian and political dimensions of Gaza’s future remain uncertain — the current pause in hostilities offering only a fleeting respite in a conflict far from resolved.
Source: BBC and Al Jazeera
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