Thousands of displaced Palestinians are streaming back toward their homes across the Gaza Strip on Friday as a landmark ceasefire between Israel and Hamas officially came into effect, ending two years of conflict. The agreement launched the first phase of a US-backed peace plan, bringing a halt to hostilities and an initial Israeli troop pullback.
In a massive column, thousands began walking northwards, forming a line at least a kilometre long from the perceived safer central areas toward Gaza City, the territory’s largest urban centre that bore the brunt of a grueling Israeli offensive.
As they walked along the recently reopened Mediterranean seafront road, AFP journalists observed people cheering and whistling in celebration, chanting, “God is great.”
Ibrahim al-Helou, 40, a man from Gaza City displaced in the central refugee camp of Al-Maghazi, expressed excitement mixed with caution. He recounted that when he first tried to head home, “the situation was dangerous, with gunfire, so I waited for a while.”
“Now, the road has been opened and we have all continued on our way back to Gaza to check on our homes and assess the situation,” he said
Ahmad Azzam, 35, also displaced from Gaza City, said he moved immediately upon hearing of the troop redeployment. “When I heard news of the Israeli withdrawal and that the road would be opened in the coming hours, my family and I immediately headed to Al-Rashid Street to return to Gaza,” he told AFP. He noted that the situation was initially dangerous, causing him to wait on a hill overlooking the coastal road. “Only a few people are risking moving forward,” he said around noon, the time the troops’ pullback officially began.
Israel’s military confirmed on Friday that troops “began positioning themselves along the updated deployment lines in preparation for the ceasefire agreement and the return of hostages.” It also stated in Arabic that Gaza’s main north-south artery, Salah Al-Din road, had been reopened, while cautioning Gazans against approaching army troops still stationed inside the Palestinian territory.
Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian had stated on Thursday that the military would redeploy to the so-called Yellow Line, as part of a gradual withdrawal under a plan proposed by US President Donald Trump. This initial withdrawal is expected to leave the military in control of approximately 53 percent of the Gaza Strip.
In the southern city of Khan Yunis, dozens of residents walked back to their homes on paths cleared through piles of rubble from two years of conflict and air strikes. The returnees walked past destroyed and damaged buildings, their facades torn off, shortly after news spread that Israeli forces had pulled back from parts of the city.
“We’re happy. Even if we return to ruins with no life, at least it’s our land,” Ameer Abu Iyadeh, a returnee, told AFP. “We’re going back to our areas, full of wounds and sorrow, but we thank God for this situation,” said the 32-year-old, smiling, with a pink school backpack and a jerrycan of water. “God willing, everyone will return to their areas,” he added, as his two daughters walked beside him.
The ceasefire agreement, brokered with the help of international mediators, is also set to include the exchange of hostages and prisoners.
Israel previously announced that all parties had signed the first phase of the agreement in Egypt, with the release of the remaining Israeli captivesboth alive and deceasedexpected to “bring the end to this war.”
