Thousands Return Home as Gaza Ceasefire Takes Hold
Tens of thousands of Palestinians began returning to the northern Gaza Strip on Friday, October 10, 2025, as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect. The truce raised cautious hopes of ending the two-year-long Israel-Hamas war. The agreement includes the release of all remaining hostages within days, marking a major step toward ending one of the most destructive conflicts in the region’s recent history.
Questions Over Gaza’s Governance and Hamas Disarmament
While the ceasefire offers temporary relief, uncertainty looms over Gaza’s political future. Israeli troops are gradually pulling back, but questions remain about who will govern the territory and whether Hamas will agree to disarm, as outlined in U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that if Hamas fails to comply, Israel could resume its offensive “the hard way.”
Massive Destruction Greets Returning Residents
The ceasefire exposes the sheer scale of destruction across Gaza. The war, sparked by Hamas’ 2023 attack on Israel, has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s two million residents. Many returnees found their homes flattened into rubble, with basic infrastructure destroyed. For countless families, the ceasefire brings both relief and heartbreak as they confront what remains of their neighborhoods.
The Israeli military confirmed the start of the truce and announced that 48 remaining hostages, including 20 believed to be alive, would be released by Monday. In exchange, Israel plans to free around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The process is set to begin early next week. Families of Israeli captives expressed measured hope, fearing that some loved ones may have died during captivity.
The United Nations has received clearance from Israel to resume humanitarian aid deliveries starting Sunday. The aid will include 170,000 metric tons of food, medicine, and fuel, already stationed in Jordan and Egypt. UN officials say this step aims to ease the severe malnutrition and famine that have gripped Gaza. Only 20% of needed aid had reached the region in recent months due to Israeli restrictions and ongoing fighting.
Residents returning to areas like Khan Younis and Gaza City found widespread devastation. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to debris, with many still searching for missing relatives under collapsed buildings. Locals describe the scene as unrecognizable, filled with grief but also determination to rebuild. Despite the ceasefire, the humanitarian crisis remains dire, and many fear that reconstruction could take years without sustained global support.
Under Donald Trump’s ceasefire framework, Israel would maintain a limited military presence along Gaza’s border, while an international force—mainly from Arab and Muslim countries—would oversee internal security. The Palestinian Authority could eventually regain a role in governance, contingent on major reforms. However, Netanyahu continues to reject the idea of a Palestinian state, leaving Gaza’s long-term political fate uncertain.
