Thousands of Palestinians return home after Gaza ceasefire.

Thousands of Palestinians return home after Gaza ceasefire.

Thousands of Palestinians walked along Gaza’s coastal road, heading north on foot to see what remained of their destroyed homes.

Gaza Ceasefire: Thousands Return to What’s Left of Home

Wadi Gaza:
Tens of thousands of Palestinians began returning to the shattered northern Gaza Strip on Friday, walking past burnt-out vehicles and crumbling roads, as a fragile ceasefire — brokered by the United States — finally came into effect.

For many, it was the first glimmer of hope in two years of unrelenting war. Families carried small bundles, children in tow, clutching photographs and keys that no longer fit any doors. They were heading north to see what might remain of their homes — or at least, the ground where their homes once stood.

The ceasefire deal, reached after weeks of intense negotiations, raised cautious optimism that the devastating Israel-Hamas war might finally be nearing its end. Under the agreement, all remaining hostages are to be released within days — a key condition that could pave the way for a lasting truce.

Uncertain Future: Who Will Govern Gaza?

Even as the guns fell silent, deep questions remained. Who would govern Gaza when the fighting stops? Would Hamas, as demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan, agree to disarm?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had abruptly ended a previous ceasefire in March, suggested that Israel’s campaign might resume if Hamas refuses to surrender its weapons.

“If this is achieved the easy way — so be it. If not, it will be achieved the hard way,” Netanyahu warned in a televised address.

Despite the uncertainty, the truce marked a major step toward halting a war that began with Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. That assault killed around 1,200 Israelis and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel’s military response has since devastated Gaza, killing over 67,000 Palestinians and wounding nearly 170,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry — figures that the UN and independent observers regard as broadly accurate. Around half the victims, the ministry says, are women and children.

The human toll is staggering: roughly 90 percent of Gaza’s 2 million people have been displaced, many more than once. For countless families, there are no homes to return to — only flattened neighbourhoods and rubble as far as the eye can see.

The Ceasefire Takes Hold

The Israeli military confirmed that the ceasefire began Friday morning. By midday, reports of heavy shelling across Gaza had largely ceased. The deal calls for the release of the remaining 48 hostages — about 20 of whom are believed to be alive — by Monday.

Israel says its troops will now withdraw to “agreed-upon lines,” retaining control of roughly half of Gaza and continuing what it described as “defensive operations.”

Meanwhile, humanitarian relief is finally expected to increase. The United Nations received approval from Israel to begin expanded aid deliveries starting Sunday. According to a UN official, these shipments will focus on addressing severe hunger and famine conditions that have gripped Gaza for months.

The International Criminal Court has accused Israel’s leadership — including Netanyahu and his former defence minister — of using starvation as a method of warfare, an allegation Israel strongly denies. Still, the images of emaciated children and families queuing for food have drawn global outrage.

Behind the scenes, UN officials and Israeli authorities have spent the past 24 hours discussing how much aid can enter Gaza and which border crossings can be used.

People on the Move

On Friday, a steady stream of people — most of them on foot — moved along Gaza’s coastal highway, heading north. It was a haunting repeat of scenes from an earlier ceasefire in January.

Old men limped beside young mothers pushing strollers. Children carried bags nearly bigger than themselves. Many were silent, their faces expressionless — exhausted by grief and fear.

“We’re just going to see what’s left,” said one man from Beit Lahia, holding his daughter’s hand. “Even if there’s nothing, we need to see it with our own eyes.”

The destruction they will find this time is far worse. In recent weeks, Israeli forces launched another offensive in Gaza City, bombing high-rise buildings and entire residential blocks in what the army called an effort to eliminate Hamas’ last strongholds.

In Khan Younis: Searching for Remnants of Life

Further south, in the city of Khan Younis, hundreds of Palestinians returned after Israeli troops pulled back. They found streets turned to dust, homes pancaked, and familiar landmarks gone.

“There was nothing left.

Her neighbour, Hani Omran, shook his head as he surveyed the wreckage. “We came to a place that is unrecognizable,” he said quietly. “Destruction is everywhere.”

For many, the return is not about rebuilding immediately — it is about reclaiming dignity, about not being refugees forever, even amid ruins.

Prisoner and Hostage Exchange

Under the terms of the deal, Israel is expected to release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the remaining hostages. The list, published Friday, notably excludes Marwan Barghouti, one of the most popular Palestinian political figures and a potential unifying leader.

Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said Thursday that all women and children held in Israeli jails would be freed. The exchanges could begin as early as Sunday night, though Egyptian officials say Monday is more likely.

For families on both sides, these coming days will be filled with a tense mixture of hope and dread — waiting to see if promises will hold, if loved ones will return, if this truce will finally last.

Fragile Hope

This ceasefire — however uncertain — represents the first real pause in a conflict that has scarred an entire generation.

As one elderly man returning to northern Gaza put it simply:

“We have nothing left but hope. And even that, we carry carefully — like a piece of broken glass.”