Gazans Return Home as Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Holds

Thousands Head North Amid Renewed Calm and Hope

Thousands of Palestinians began returning to their homes along Gaza’s northern coast on Saturday — on foot, by car, and in trucks — as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continued to hold.

Under the first phase of a U.S.-brokered agreement this week, Israeli troops began withdrawing in a move aimed at ending a war that has claimed thousands of lives and left much of the territory in ruins.

“It’s an indescribable feeling — praise be to God,” said Nabila Basal, walking with her daughter, who had suffered a head injury during the war. “We’re so relieved that the fighting has stopped and that the suffering is finally over.”

According to Israel Army Radio, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Gaza early Saturday to inspect Israeli military deployments. He was joined by Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), who said their visit was part of efforts to establish a task force to support stabilization in Gaza — though no U.S. troops will be stationed inside the enclave.

Hostage Releases Approaching Deadline

Following Israel’s troop redeployment on Friday — pulling back from major urban centers while maintaining control over roughly half the enclave — Hamas faces a 72-hour deadline to begin releasing its hostages.

“We’re filled with hope, waiting for our son and all 48 hostages to come home,” said Hagai Angrest, whose son Matan is among 20 Israelis still believed to be alive. “We’re just waiting for the phone call.”

Twenty-six hostages have been declared dead in absentia, while the fate of two others remains unknown.

Under the terms of the deal, once hostages are handed over, Israel will release 250 long-term Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees captured during the conflict.

Hundreds of trucks carrying food and medical aid are also expected to enter Gaza daily as part of the agreement.

Trump Expected to Visit Israel and Egypt

Despite the breakthrough, questions remain over whether the ceasefire and prisoner exchange — the most significant step yet toward ending the two-year war — will lead to lasting peace under Trump’s 20-point plan.

Many unresolved issues persist, including who will govern Gaza once the fighting officially ends, and the future of Hamas, which has rejected Israel’s demands for disarmament.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he was confident the ceasefire would hold. “Everyone’s exhausted by the fighting,” he said, adding that he believed there was now a “broad consensus” on the next steps, though “some details still need to be worked out.”

The announcement brought cautious relief across both Israel and Palestine, marking the potential end of a war that has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and paved the way for the return of the remaining hostages taken in the Hamas assault that ignited the conflict.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants attacked Israeli towns, military bases, and a music festival — killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 hostages.

Trump is expected to visit the region on Monday, addressing Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, becoming the first U.S. president to do so since George W. Bush in 2008.

He also plans to travel to Egypt, where other world leaders are expected to join discussions on the region’s next steps toward peace.