A ceasefire has officially begun, leading to a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from certain areas of Gaza. Reports indicate that thousands of displaced Palestinians are now making their way back to their homes in the northern part of the territory, which has seen significant bombardment.
The Israeli military confirmed that its forces have begun repositioning along agreed-upon lines, although troops still occupy approximately half of the Gaza Strip. Footage circulating shows civilians heading north, many on foot, carrying their remaining belongings amidst widespread destruction.
This de-escalation follows an agreement based on a US-brokered plan, with the first phase of troop withdrawal commencing. Further negotiations are ongoing for subsequent phases, which reportedly include the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
Under the terms of the deal, Hamas is expected to release all Israeli hostages by Monday. In return, Israel is set to release a significant number of Palestinian prisoners, with details on their destinations and the process for those detained from Gaza being finalized.
An increase in humanitarian aid is also anticipated, with the agreement aiming for unrestricted entry of aid trucks to alleviate the severe shortages of essential supplies like food, fuel, and clean water in the Gaza Strip. Eyewitness accounts and aid agencies highlight the dire humanitarian situation, with widespread devastation impacting the return of civilians to their homes.
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