Historic Ceasefire Sees Palestinians Return to Gaza’s North Amid Massive Destruction

Tens of thousands of Palestinians surged northward on Friday, braving rubble-choked roads and coastal paths to reclaim homes in northern Gaza, hours after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hamas took effect at noon local time. The Israeli military confirmed troops' withdrawal to pre-agreed lines, allowing the first returns since the war's onset, but warned against approaching active zones like Beit Hanoun and Al-Shujaiyya.

Displaced resident Fayez AlMajdoub, who fled months ago, captured the collective yearning: "We want to go back. I want to go and make sure my home is still there." This exodus follows early-morning shelling reports, underscoring the truce's fragile start in a conflict that has killed over 43,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million people, per Gaza Health Ministry figures.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the cabinet's approval of President Donald Trump's ceasefire outline early Friday, focusing on the release of all 48 remaining hostages—about 20 believed alive—in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu hailed the deal as fulfilling a core war aim, stating, "Hamas agreed only when it felt the sword was on its neck," crediting Trump's Washington talks.

The plan omits thorny issues like Hamas disarmament or Gaza's governance, leaving Phase Two—full withdrawal and reconstruction—unresolved. Israeli forces began repositioning immediately, reverting to January 2025 humanitarian protocols: 600 aid trucks daily carrying food, medicine, and fuel, coordinated via a new U.S. Central Command civil-military center in Israel, involving NGOs and private partners.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) braced for a Herculean exchange, with spokesman Christian Cardon calling the 72-hour hostage release window "extremely tight." Unlike prior truces, this operation's scale—coordinating releases across Gaza and Israeli prisons—lacks finalized logistics, though the ICRC stands ready for all scenarios. Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed Italian police will resume Rafah crossing patrols next week, opening bidirectionally from October 14 to facilitate returns and aid. Palestinians who fled Gaza pre- or mid-war can now re-enter after Israeli-Egyptian security checks, a humanitarian concession amid the blockade's toll, which has spiked child malnutrition 300% since 2024, according to UN data.

Morning optimism clashed with reports of intensified shelling in Nuseirat and Gaza City, where displaced families like Mahmoud Sharkawy's endured artillery barrages and low-flying jets despite the cabinet nod. Shifa Hospital's Rami Mhanna noted unabated strikes in southern and northern areas, fueling fears of violations. As crowds gathered in Wadi Gaza before noon, IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee designated safe routes but barred access to Khan Younis and the Philadelphi Corridor.

Trump's intervention, leveraging Gulf mediators, echoes his Abraham Accords but tests enforcement amid regional tensions. With aid poised to surge and returns underway, the truce offers Gaza's weary a breath—but unanswered questions on demilitarization and rebuilding loom large, as families sift through ruins hoping for permanence in the peace.