On a Friday when a U.S.-brokered truce finally took hold, tens of thousands of Palestinians walked back along the coastal roads toward homes that are now mostly rubble, carrying the old habit of hope into ground that has been erased more than once. It is a moment the world has seen before, in January, and the people returning know what they may find; still they go, because a place to return to is what the war has been trying to take from them. Behind the quiet of the ceasefire stand more than 67,000 dead by the Health Ministry's count, a displaced population of nearly two million, and question
Thousands Return to Ruined Homes in Northern Gaza as U.S.-Brokered Ceasefire Takes Effect
Over 67,000 Palestinians killed and nearly 170,000 wounded per Gaza's Health Ministry, with about 90% of the population of some 2 million displaced, often multiple times; 1,200 killed and 251 taken hostage in the October 7, 2023 attack.
Many will find fields of rubble where their homes once stood.
Mark
Why does this ceasefire feel different from the one in January?
Mimi
Mostly because of what people are walking back to. Israel's recent Gaza City offensive flattened high-rises and homes, so the destruction in the north is expected to be worse than before.
Mark
And the people returning, what are they saying?
Mimi
Relief, but little joy. Fatma Radwan in Khan Younis found only a few clothes, wood and pots, and people were still digging for bodies.
Luke
Let's be careful with the casualty numbers. The 67,000 figure comes from Gaza's Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government.
Mimi
True, and the reporting says so. It also notes the U.N. and many independent experts consider those figures the most reliable estimate available.
Luke
Fine. What about aid? Is it flowing?
Mimi
Partly. Fuel and medical supplies have started through Kerem Shalom, per Stephane Dujarric. The larger scaled-up deliveries starting Sunday come from an anonymous U.N. official.
Mark
What's the biggest open question?
Mimi
Disarmament and governance. Netanyahu hinted at renewed force if Hamas keeps its weapons.
Luke
And the plan itself is vague on a Palestinian state and on a timeline for Palestinian Authority reform. Nothing here is settled beyond the first phase.
Mark
So Monday matters.
Mimi
Yes. The hostage and prisoner releases are the first real test, and even their timing is attributed to anonymous officials.
O Pulso
- Tens of thousands of people are on foot along coastal roads, racing toward neighborhoods where their homes were reduced to rubble.
- Families are pulling bodies from the debris in Khan Younis, finding little beyond scraps of clothing, wood, and cooking pots.
- Hostage and prisoner exchanges are set to begin around Monday, with 48 hostages still held and about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners due for release.
- Aid convoys are queued for scaled-up deliveries, yet the U.N. says only a fraction of what is needed has reached Gaza in recent months.
- Netanyahu's vow to disarm Hamas 'the easy way or the hard way' and his hints of renewed offensives leave the truce hanging on unresolved questions of power and weapons.
On a Friday when a U.S.-brokered truce finally took hold, tens of thousands of Palestinians walked back along the coastal roads toward homes that are now mostly rubble, carrying the old habit of hope into ground that has been erased more than once. It is a moment the world has seen before, in January, and the people returning know what they may find; still they go, because a place to return to is what the war has been trying to take from them. Behind the quiet of the ceasefire stand more than 67,000 dead by the Health Ministry's count, a displaced population of nearly two million, and questions no one has yet answered: who will govern these ruins, and whether the armed power that began this cycle will lay down its weapons.
On Friday, a steady stream of Palestinians, most of them walking, filled a coastal road in central Gaza and turned north. They were going back to what remained of their homes as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect. Tens of thousands made the journey, and others set out for other parts of the territory. The scene recalled the earlier truce in January.
What they found was likely worse. Israel's recent offensive in Gaza City bombed high-rises and destroyed homes, and in Khan Younis hundreds returned to wrecked buildings and rubble. Fatma Radwan, displaced from the city, said almost nothing was left but a few clothes, pieces of wood, and pots, and people were still digging for bodies. Hani Omran no longer recognized the place. Jamal Mesbah, displaced from the north, said there was little joy, but the ceasefire eased some of the pain of the bloodshed.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. Since then, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 170,000 wounded, and around 90% of the roughly 2 million residents have been displaced, often several times.
Under the deal, the remaining 48 hostages, about 20 believed alive, are to be released by Monday, and Israel is to free around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Stephen Brisley, whose sister and nieces were killed on October 7, described a measured hope among hostage families, while his own family still seeks the return of a relative's body for burial.
The harder questions remain. Netanyahu says Hamas will be disarmed one way or another, and Israel will keep operating from the roughly half of Gaza it holds. Who will govern the territory, and whether Hamas will give up its arms, are still unanswered as the releases approach.
On Friday, a steady stream of Palestinians, almost all of them on foot, packed a coastal road in central Gaza and turned north. They were heading toward what remains of their homes as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect. Tens of thousands made the trip. Others set out for different parts of the territory in the south. The scenes echoed those from an earlier truce in January.
The Israeli military confirmed the ceasefire had begun. Palestinians said heavy shelling in parts of Gaza earlier in the day had mostly stopped after that announcement. The remaining 48 hostages, about 20 of whom are believed to be alive, are to be released by Monday. Two Egyptian officials briefed on the talks and a Hamas official said the hostage and prisoner releases should start Monday, though another official said they could come as early as Sunday night. All spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to be named.
What the returnees find will likely be worse than in January. In recent weeks Israel waged a new offensive in Gaza City, in the north, bombing high-rises and blowing up homes. The military said it was trying to destroy Hamas' remaining military infrastructure. In Khan Younis, in the south, hundreds of people went back after Israeli troops withdrew and found wrecked buildings and rubble. Fatma Radwan, who was displaced from the city, said there was nothing left but a few clothes, pieces of wood and pots, and that people were still trying to pull bodies from the rubble. Hani Omran described a place he could no longer identify. Jamal Mesbah, who was displaced from the north and plans to return, said there was little joy, but that the ceasefire eased somewhat the pain of death and bloodshed.
The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. In the Israeli offensive since, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 170,000 wounded, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish civilians from combatants but says around half the dead were women and children. It is part of the Hamas-run government, though the United Nations and many independent experts consider its figures the most reliable estimate. Around 90% of Gaza's roughly 2 million people have been displaced, often several times.
Aid is meant to follow quickly. A U.N. official, speaking anonymously, said Israel has approved scaled-up deliveries starting Sunday, including 170,000 metric tons already positioned in countries such as Jordan and Egypt. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said fuel and medical supplies have started moving through the Kerem Shalom crossing, and the U.N. wants more crossings opened and safe movement for aid workers and returning civilians. U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said that in recent months the U.N. and its partners delivered only 20% of the aid needed. The International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister over alleged use of starvation as a method of war, which Israeli officials deny.
Under the deal, Israel is to release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages. Israel's published list left out Marwan Barghouti, a popular Palestinian leader and potential unifying figure whom Israel regards as a terrorist. Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said all women and children held in Israeli jails will be freed. Stephen Brisley, whose sister Lianne Sharabi and her two teenage daughters were killed on Oct. 7, spoke of measured hope among hostage families. His family wants the body of Yossi Sharabi, believed killed in a January 2024 airstrike, returned for burial. Yossi's brother Eli was released earlier.
The harder questions sit ahead. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who unilaterally ended a ceasefire in March, said Hamas will be disarmed "the easy way" or "the hard way." Israel will keep operating defensively from the roughly 50% of Gaza it still holds. President Trump's plan envisions an international force largely from Arab and Muslim countries, a U.S.-led reconstruction effort, and an eventual, reform-dependent role for the Palestinian Authority, which Netanyahu opposes. Who governs Gaza, and whether Hamas gives up its arms, remain unanswered as the releases approach.
Citações Notáveis
If this is achieved the easy way — so be it. If not — it will be achieved the hard way.— Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
We hold our hope lightly because we've had our hopes dashed before.— Stephen Brisley, relative of hostages
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