GAZA CITY, Palestine — A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas entered its third day on Monday, allowing tens of thousands of displaced Gazans to begin returning home amid scenes of utter devastation.
Under the truce deal, 20 living Israeli hostages are expected to be released by Hamas, while Israel will free nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees.
The agreement, brokered by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, also provides for Israeli forces to withdraw to agreed positions and the gradual resumption of humanitarian access into Gaza.
As the truce took effect, displaced families began trekking back north from southern Gaza, traversing roads scarred by conflict. In Gaza City, once-vibrant streets now lie in ruins — scorched buildings, collapsed homes, and debris stretching over entire neighbourhoods.
Civilians sifted through the wreckage, searching for remnants of their former lives. Others paused before what had once been their homes, now reduced to concrete shells.
Amid the upheaval, civil defense teams continued recovering bodies and human remains from under rubble, as grieving families attempted to find closure.
Central to the deal is the hostage exchange — 20 living Israelis in Hamas custody will be returned into Israeli hands starting Monday morning, with the bodies of 28 deceased captives to follow.
In parallel, Israel will begin releasing around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including women, minors, and those held since the outbreak of war in October 2023.
The Red Cross is slated to supervise the process, ensuring safe passage across borders between Gaza and Israel.
While the living hostages’ release is expected imminently, not all deceased captives may be returned immediately. Israeli officials say logistical constraints and identification protocols remain obstacles to full repatriation.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who declared “the war is over” before flying to the region, is expected to co-chair a peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, joined by over 20 international leaders.
Though the truce marks a hopeful turning point, sceptics remain cautious. Key issues, Gaza’s governance structure, Hamas disarmament, and a durable security framework, have yet to be resolved. Some argue that an international supervisory body may fill this governance vacuum.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged missteps in the war’s management, urging national unity as hostages return. He warned that security challenges remain, and that the campaign was not over.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the truce, calling it a “significant step” toward Palestinian self-determination. He emphasized that full humanitarian access, reconstruction planning, and political momentum are essential if the ceasefire is to hold.
The truce offers urgent relief and glimpses of reconciliation — but the path forward is fraught. For Gazans returning to rubble, reconstruction is not just physical but social and emotional.
Humanitarian agencies must ramp up the delivery of food, medical supplies, shelter, and water amid destroyed infrastructure.
Longer term, the success of the ceasefire momentum will hinge on political arrangements, accountability, and the ability to transform this temporary pause into a lasting peace.
For now, families brace to reunite, communities to rebuild, and a battered region to heal — even as uncertainty lingers.
