Tens of Thousands Return to Ruins as Fragile Ceasefire Begins in Gaza

 

By Emmaculate Cheruto 

Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun returning to the ruins of their homes in Gaza following the start of a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel that came into effect on Friday. The agreement, brokered after weeks of intensive international diplomacy, marks the first major pause in hostilities since the conflict escalated earlier this year.

Under the terms of the deal, Israeli troops have withdrawn to new agreed-upon positions, primarily outside the eastern districts of Khan Younis and the central Nuseirat camp. In return, Hamas is expected to release 20 living Israeli hostages, while Israel has agreed to free 250 Palestinian prisoners serving long-term sentences in Israeli prisons.

Despite the breakthrough, the tone from both sides remains wary. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took credit for the deal, insisting that it was military and diplomatic pressure that brought Hamas to the negotiating table.

"I believed that if we applied heavy military pressure, combined with heavy diplomatic pressure, we would absolutely be able to return all of our hostages," Netanyahu said at a press conference on Friday, where he also thanked former U.S. President Donald Trump for his support.

Netanyahu, however, coupled his gratitude with a stark warning:

"Hamas agreed to the deal only when it felt the sword resting on its neck… Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarised. If this is achieved the easy way, so much the better. If not, it will be achieved the hard way."

Hamas, in turn, signaled that it would not accept full disarmament, a key condition of the U.S.-backed plan championed by Trump. Speaking to Sky News, senior Hamas official Basel Naim said:

"Our weapons are going to be handed over only to the hands of the Palestinian state, and our fighters can be integrated into the Palestinian national army."

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amid Ceasefire

Though the guns have fallen silent — for now — the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains catastrophic. UN-backed food experts warn that famine has taken hold in some areas, with malnutrition widespread across the entire Strip. More than 90% of homes have been damaged or destroyed, and most basic infrastructure — including water, electricity, and medical facilities — has collapsed.

In southern Gaza, thousands of displaced Palestinians who had sheltered in the coastal strip of al-Mawasi began returning inland toward the shattered city of Khan Younis. Witnesses described scenes of devastation: Ahmed al-Brim, pushing a bicycle piled high with wood, navigated past rows of bombed-out buildings and streets choked with rubble.

"We have nothing left. But we have no choice but to come back," he said.

Unclear Path Forward

Although the ceasefire agreement includes a provision for a significant increase in humanitarian and medical aid through all five Israeli-controlled border crossings, it remains unclear when and how that aid will begin flowing. Israel has said that aid will be conditional on the release of hostages and security guarantees, while aid organizations are urging immediate and unrestricted access.

Israeli forces are expected to retain control of roughly 53% of Gaza during the initial phase of the withdrawal. Until the full release of hostages is confirmed, the situation remains tense. Earlier on Friday, Israeli airstrikes intensified before the ceasefire deadline, prompting fears the agreement could still unravel.

International observers warn that without a political resolution addressing the root causes of the conflict, including the status of Gaza and the future of Palestinian statehood, the truce may only be a temporary reprieve in a long cycle of violence.