Gaza/Jerusalem, Oct 11: Tens of thousands of Palestinians streamed back to the devastated northern Gaza Strip on Friday as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took hold, offering the first respite in nearly two years of war between Israel and Hamas. The truce, part of a deal that includes the release of remaining hostages, raised cautious hopes for an end to one of the deadliest conflicts in the region’s history.
The Israeli military confirmed the start of the ceasefire and said operations would continue defensively from the roughly half of Gaza it still controls. The agreement is expected to see the remaining 48 hostages — about 20 of them believed to be alive — released by Monday, in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas must disarm and Gaza must be demilitarised under U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan. “If this is achieved the easy way — so be it. If not — it will be achieved the hard way,” Netanyahu said in a televised address, warning Israel could resume its offensive if Hamas fails to comply.
The ceasefire follows months of fierce fighting that began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and seizing 251 hostages. Israel’s subsequent offensive has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and wounded nearly 170,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which says roughly half of the dead are women and children.
As the guns fell silent, a steady stream of people, many on foot, moved along Gaza’s coastal road toward the ruins of their homes. “There wasn’t much joy, but the ceasefire somewhat eased the pain of death and bloodshed,” said Jamal Mesbah, who was displaced from the north and plans to return. Others in southern Gaza found nothing left but rubble. “We came to a place that is unidentifiable — destruction is everywhere,” said Hani Omran, a resident of Khan Younis.
The United Nations said Israel had given approval for scaled-up humanitarian deliveries beginning Sunday to address famine and severe malnutrition caused by months of bombardment and restricted aid access. About 170,000 metric tons of supplies have been staged in neighbouring Jordan and Egypt. Fuel and medical shipments have begun entering Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, but U.N. officials urged Israel to open more border points and guarantee safe passage for aid workers.
U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said only about 20% of the aid required in Gaza has reached the enclave in recent months. The International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister for allegedly using starvation as a weapon of war — accusations Israel denies.
Under Trump’s ceasefire plan, Israel will retain an open-ended military presence along Gaza’s border, while an international force, largely drawn from Arab and Muslim countries, will oversee internal security. The United States will lead a major reconstruction effort, and a reformed Palestinian Authority may eventually play a role in governance — though the plan offers no clear path to Palestinian statehood, which Netanyahu opposes.
For now, weary Palestinians are focused on survival. As they sift through the ruins of Gaza City and Khan Younis, many find little left of their former lives but debris, dust and memories.
