GAZA Wadi, Gaza Strip (AP) — Tens of thousands of Palestinians returned to the badly devastated northern Gaza Strip on Friday as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in a deal that raised hopes of an end to the war between Israel and Hamas. All remaining hostages are scheduled to be released within days.
Questions remain about who will govern Gaza as Israeli forces gradually withdraw and whether Hamas will disarm, as US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan called for. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who unilaterally ended the ceasefire in March, hinted that Israel might renew its offensive if Hamas did not give up its weapons.
However, the latest truce represents a major step towards ending the devastating two-year war sparked by the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. The fighting led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians and the displacement of about 90% of Gaza’s population of approximately 2 million people, often several times. Many will find fields of rubble where their homes once stood.
The military confirmed the start of a ceasefire on Friday, and the remaining 48 hostages, about 20 of whom are believed to be alive, are scheduled to be released by Monday. The Palestinians said the violent bombardment of parts of Gaza earlier on Friday had largely stopped after the army’s announcement.
Netanyahu said in a televised statement on Friday that the next stages will witness the disarmament of Hamas and the disarmament of Gaza.
“If it is achieved the easy way – so be it. If not – it will be achieved the hard way,” Netanyahu said. He added that Hamas agreed to the deal “only when it felt that the sword was at its neck – and it is still at its neck.”
The Israeli army said that it will continue to operate defensively from about 50% of the Gaza Strip, which it still controls after the withdrawal to the agreed upon lines.
On the other hand, a UN official said that Israel has received the green light from the United Nations to begin providing increased aid to Gaza as of Sunday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not yet been announced.
The aid will include 170,000 metric tons already placed in neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt, where humanitarian relief officials are awaiting permission from Israeli forces to resume their work.
In the past few months, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners have been able to provide only 20% of the aid needed in the Gaza Strip, according to UN Humanitarian Affairs Chief Tom Fletcher.
People are on the move
A steady stream of people, the vast majority on foot, piled onto the coastal road in the central Gaza Strip, heading north to see what might remain of their homes. This was a repeat of the emotional scenes from a previous ceasefire in January. Others headed to other parts of the Palestinian territories in the south.
The destruction they will find this time will be greater, after Israel launched a new attack on Gaza City, in the north, in recent weeks. The army bombed high-rise buildings and blew up homes in what it said was an attempt to destroy what remained of Hamas’ military infrastructure.
Palestinians expressed relief at the prospect of the war ending, alleviating anxiety about the future and the continuing pain of stunning death and destruction.
Jamal Misbah, who was displaced from the north and plans to return, said: “There was not much joy, but the ceasefire somewhat alleviated the pain of death and bloodshed, and the pain of our loved ones and brothers who suffered in this war.”
In the city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, hundreds of Palestinians returning to their homes found destroyed buildings, rubble and destruction after the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Fatima Radwan, who was displaced from Khan Yunis, said: “There is nothing left. Just some clothes, pieces of wood, and utensils.” She added that people are still trying to recover bodies from under the rubble.
Many buildings were flattened, but none were damaged, as people returned to search for their belongings. “We came to a place that cannot be identified,” said Hani Omran, who was also displaced from Khan Yunis. “A town that cannot be identified. Destruction everywhere.”
The war began when militants led by Hamas stormed Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage.
In the ensuing Israeli offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza were killed and nearly 170,000 wounded, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says about half of those killed were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and its figures are considered by the United Nations and many independent experts to be the most reliable estimate of casualties in the war.
The war has also sparked other conflicts in the region, sparked protests around the world and led to accusations of genocide, which Israel denies.
How the agreement is expected to unfold
Israel is scheduled to release about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages. The list published by Israel on Friday did not include prominent prisoner Marwan Barghouti, the most popular Palestinian leader and potentially unifying figure. Israel considers him and other high-profile prisoners terrorists and has refused to release them in previous exchanges.
Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official and chief negotiator, said Thursday evening that all women and children detained in Israeli prisons will be released.
The release of hostages and prisoners is expected to begin on Monday, two Egyptian officials familiar with the talks and a Hamas official said, although another official said that could happen as early as Sunday night. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to reveal their names publicly while talking about the negotiations.
A relative of an Israeli hostage who is believed to have died in captivity said the family hopes to return his body for burial.
“It’s a thoughtful feeling of hope for all the families of the hostages,” said Steven Pressley, whose sister Leanne Sharabi and two teenage daughters were killed in the Oct. 7 attack.
Lian’s husband, Eli Sharabi, was eventually released, but his brother, Yossi, is believed to have died in an airstrike in January 2024. The family hopes to give him a dignified burial.
“We’re holding on to our hope lightly because we’ve had our hopes crushed before,” Presley told The Associated Press from his home in South Wales. “There is still a long way to go between announcing the deal and recovering Yusei’s body for burial.”
Egyptian and Hamas officials said that as part of the agreement, five border crossings are expected to be reopened, including the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt. This will allow aid to flow into the region, parts of which are suffering from famine.
Trump’s plan calls on Israel to maintain an open military presence inside Gaza, along its border with Israel. An international force consisting largely of forces from Arab and Islamic countries will be responsible for security inside Gaza.
To help support and monitor the ceasefire agreement, US officials said they would send about 200 troops to Israel as part of a broader international team. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that were not authorized for publication.
The United States will also lead a massive reconstruction effort with international funding.
The plan envisions an eventual role for the Palestinian Authority — something Netanyahu has long opposed. But it requires the authority, which administers parts of the West Bank, to undergo a comprehensive reform program that could take years.
Trump’s plan is even more vague about a future Palestinian state, which Netanyahu strongly rejects.
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Al-Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel; And Sami Magdy in Cairo; Elena Bekatoros in Athens, Greece; Danica Kirka in London; Farnoush Amiri in New York contributed to this report.
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Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war