Thousands return to Gaza after ceasefire deal comes into effect

Tens of thousands of Palestinians returned to the heavily destroyed northern Gaza Strip after a ceasefire deal came into effect.

The US-brokered truce, which was confirmed on Friday, has raised hopes for ending the Israel-Hamas war, with all of the remaining hostages set to be released within days.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who ended a ceasefire in March, hinted that Israel might renew its offensive if Hamas does not give up its weapons.

Around 90% of the two million population of Gaza were displaced by the fighting and have returned – mostly on foot – to find fields of rubble where their homes once stood.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in the war.

Displaced Palestinians walk with their belongings as they return to the southern Gaza Strip after a ceasefire deal was confirmed. / Credit: AP

The 48 remaining Israeli hostages will be released by Monday, with around 20 of them believed to be alive.

The Israeli military has said it will continue to operate defensively from the roughly 50% of Gaza it still controls after pulling back to agreed-upon lines.

Netanyahu said in a televised statement on Friday that the next stages would see Hamas disarm and Gaza demilitarised.

“If this is achieved the easy way, so be it. If not, it will be achieved the hard way,” Netanyahu said.

Palestinians return to Gaza after the ceasefire deal comes into effect. / Credit: AP

Elsewhere on Saturday, Israel carried out intense airstrikes on southern Lebanon, killing one person and wounding seven in the village of Msayleh.

The Israeli military said the target was machinery intended for the militant Hezbollah group’s infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the United Nations was given the green light by Israel to begin delivering scaled-up aid into Gaza starting from Sunday, a U.N. official said.

The aid shipments are meant to address severe malnutrition and famine conditions triggered by Israeli offensives and restrictions on humanitarian help.

Displaced Palestinians walk with their belongings along the coastal road near Wadi Gaza in the central Gaza Strip. / Credit: AP

Palestinians have expressed relief that the war may end, tempered with concern about the future and lingering pain from the staggering death and destruction.

“There wasn’t much joy, but the ceasefire somewhat eased the pain of death and bloodshed, and the pain of our loved ones and brothers who suffered in this war,” said Jamal Mesbah, who was displaced from the north and plans to return.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage.

In Israel’s ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and nearly 170,000 wounded, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Israel is set to release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the remaining hostages.

The United Nations has been given the green light by Israel to begin delivering scaled-up aid into Gaza starting from Sunday. / Credit: AP

Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official and lead negotiator, said on Thursday that all women and children held in Israeli jails will be freed.

The hostage and prisoner releases are expected to begin Monday, two Egyptian officials said, though another official said they could occur as early as Sunday night.