Thousands of people have begun the arduous journey back to Gaza City following an overnight cease-fire, with initial reports painting a grim picture of widespread devastation across the region.
“The sheer scale of destruction is truly astonishing,” remarked Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the United Nations’ humanitarian office, who recently visited the city. “Many are heading north to Gaza City, only to arrive and find nothing but ruins where their homes once stood, leading to a profound mix of emotions.”
Mediators are optimistic that this cease-fire, which commenced Friday at noon, will mark the end of two years of intense conflict.
In Gaza, the relief of silenced guns is overshadowed by the immense destruction awaiting those who venture back north. Last month, a ground offensive by Israel prompted hundreds of thousands to flee Gaza City.
Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense emergency rescue service, reported Saturday that 63 bodies had already been recovered from the streets of Gaza City since the cease-fire. He fears dozens more remain buried beneath the rubble.
Dr. Mohammad Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, warned that the healthcare system faces “severe shortages” and “immense” challenges with the return of residents. “We’ve merely concluded one war and immediately entered another,” he stated.
Gaza is reeling from a severe humanitarian crisis, marked by widespread hunger, extensive property destruction, and the repeated displacement of most of its two million inhabitants over two years of conflict. Already impoverished before the war, the region has seen food and aid supplies drastically cut, exacerbating an already dire situation.
The agreement reached on Thursday between Israel and Hamas includes provisions for a significant increase in humanitarian aid flowing into the enclave.
Israel is set to permit the United Nations to deliver larger quantities of humanitarian aid into Gaza starting Sunday, according to a senior U.N. official who spoke anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
The United Nations has confirmed that approximately 170,000 metric tons of essential supplies, including food and medicine, are pre-positioned and ready for transport.
Where Israel Has Agreed to Withdraw Troops to in Gaza
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5 miles
Sderot
ISRAEL
Jabalia
Gaza
City
Initial withdrawal
Israel has agreed
to withdraw its forces
behind this line as part
of the hostage deal.
GAZA
STRIP
Deir
al-Balah
Khan
Younis
Rafah
WEST
BANK
GAZA
STRIP
EGYPT
Israel
The Rafah border crossing is set to open, allowing aid deliveries.
WEST
BANK
GAZA
STRIP
Jabalia
Sderot
Gaza
City
Israel
Mediterranean
Sea
Initial withdrawal
Israel has agreed to withdraw
its forces behind this line
as part of the hostage deal.
GAZA STRIP
Khan
Younis
Ofakim
EGYPT
Rafah
ISRAEL
The Rafah border crossing is set to open, allowing aid deliveries.
5 miles
Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas is expected to release the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Simultaneously, Israeli troops would reposition to new lines within the territory.
This deal draws from a 20-point plan unveiled last month by President Trump. While the recent truce doesn’t fully address all core demands, such as Hamas’s potential disarmament, Mr. Trump hailed it as a personal triumph.
“I’ve never witnessed such joy in many of these regions, not just Israel. People are literally dancing in the streets,” Mr. Trump exclaimed at a White House event on Friday. “It’s truly unprecedented.”
He informed reporters that he believed there was “broad consensus” on the plan, and anticipated the hostages’ release on Monday. “They are being retrieved now,” he stated. “Some are in very challenging locations, known to only a select few.”
For countless individuals traversing the coastal road from southern to northern Gaza, this pause in hostilities represents a vital chance to return home and confront the remnants of their former lives.
Mona Mortaja, a 27-year-old accounting student, found herself journeying back to a city she once believed she might never see again. “Our farewell to Gaza felt so final,” she shared on Friday.
Nearby, Ahmed Jabr, 37, walked alongside his wife and seven children. They, too, had fled Gaza City last month, fearing an irreversible departure.
“Now, I’m back,” he declared, his voice filled with relief. “There are no more bombings, no airstrikes, no fear. My children and I finally feel safe.”
Rawan Sheikh Ahmad also contributed to this report from Haifa, Israel.