The ‘Home Coming’ of Gazans

Hope, fear, trauma, nostalgia - carrying enormous emotional baggage, t housands of displaced Palestinians streamed back towards their abandoned homes on Friday after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect and Israeli troops began withdrawing from parts of Gaza. A massive column of residents moved north through the dust toward Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban area, which had been under attack in one of Israel’s biggest offensives of the war.

“Thank God my house is still standing,” said Ismail Zayda, 40, in the Sheikh Radwan area of Gaza City. “But the place is destroyed, my neighbours' houses are destroyed, entire districts have gone.”

The Israeli military confirmed the ceasefire agreement was activated at noon local time (0900 GMT on Friday. Israel’s government ratified the deal early Friday, allowing troops to partially pull back and suspend hostilities fully within 24 hours. Israeli hostages held in Gaza are to be freed within 72 hours in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

Partial Withdrawal and Humanitarian Aid

The first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the two-year conflict calls for Israeli forces to withdraw from major urban areas, while maintaining control over roughly half of Gaza’s territory. Once implemented, trucks carrying food and medical aid will surge into Gaza, assisting hundreds of thousands of civilians sheltering in tents after extensive destruction.

In Khan Younis in southern Gaza, some Israeli troops pulled back from eastern border areas, though tank shelling was reported by residents. In Nusseirat camp in central Gaza, soldiers dismantled positions heading east toward Israel, but others remained after early-morning gunfire. Along the Mediterranean coast into Gaza City, hundreds gathered hoping to return home, though nearby gunfire made many cautious.

“As soon as we heard the news of the truce and ceasefire, we were very happy and got ready to go back to Gaza City, to our homes. Of course there are no homes – they’ve been destroyed,” said Mahdi Saqla, 40. “But we are happy just to return to where our homes were, even over the rubble. That too is a great joy. For two years we’ve been suffering, displaced from place to place.”

Hostages and Political Context Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the framework for the release of all hostages, both living and deceased, via his English-language X account. Twenty Israeli hostages are still believed alive, 26 presumed dead, and the fate of two unknown. Hamas indicated recovering the bodies of the dead may take longer than releasing the living.

The war, which has killed over 67,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis, has intensified Israel’s international isolation, drawn in regional actors including Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon, and tested U.S.-Israeli relations. Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas’ exiled Gaza chief, said he received guarantees from the United States and other mediators that the war is over.

Challenges Ahead There is still some uncertainty. The list of Palestinian prisoners to be released has not yet been published, and Hamas seeks freedom for prominent convicts and hundreds detained during Israel’s assault. Future steps in Trump’s 20-point plan, including Gaza’s governance and Hamas’ disarmament, have yet to be agreed.

The Hamas-run interior ministry said it would deploy security forces in areas vacated by the Israeli army, though it is unclear whether fighters will return in significant numbers. Netanyahu faces skepticism within his coalition, with many opposed to deals with Hamas.Trump is expected in the region on Sunday, possibly for a signing ceremony in Egypt, and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana invited him to address Israel’s parliament. The deal has been widely hailed by Arab and Western nations as a major diplomatic achievement. The U.S. will deploy 200 troops as part of a joint task force for Gaza stability, alongside Egyptians, Qataris, Turks, and possibly Emiratis, though no Americans will be on the ground in Gaza itself.

The world hopes, the hope of the Gazans doesn’t evade and with great resilience they will be able to rebuild their homes soon.