Thousands of Palestinians made their way north along Gaza’s coastline on Saturday — on foot, in cars, and on donkey carts — returning to their abandoned homes as a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas appeared to hold.

Israeli forces withdrew as part of the first phase of a U.S.-brokered deal reached earlier in the week to end the conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and left much of the territory in ruins.

“It’s an indescribable feeling — praise be to God,” said Nabila Basal, walking with her daughter, who she said had suffered a head injury during the fighting. “We are very, very happy that the war has stopped and the suffering is over.”

U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Gaza early on Saturday to observe the Israeli military’s redeployment, Israel’s Army Radio reported, citing a security source. He was accompanied by Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM), who said the visit was part of efforts to establish a task force to support Gaza’s stabilisation — though U.S. troops would not enter the enclave.

Countdown begins for hostage releases

Once Israel completed its redeployment on Friday — pulling troops out of major cities but maintaining control over roughly half the territory — the 72-hour countdown began for Hamas to release its hostages.

“We’re very excited, waiting for our son and for all the 48 hostages,” said Hagai Angrest, whose son Matan is among the 20 Israelis believed to still be alive. “We are waiting for the phone call.”

Twenty-six hostages have been declared dead in absentia, and the fate of two others remains unknown.

Under the agreement, Israel will release 250 Palestinians serving lengthy prison terms and 1,700 detainees held since the conflict began, in exchange for the hostages’ freedom.

Hundreds of aid trucks are expected to enter Gaza each day, carrying food, medicine, and humanitarian supplies.

Trump to visit Israel and Egypt

Despite cautious optimism, questions linger over whether the ceasefire and prisoner exchange — the most significant step yet toward ending two years of conflict — will lead to lasting peace under Trump’s 20-point plan.

Many uncertainties remain, including how the devastated Gaza Strip will be governed after the fighting ends, and the future of Hamas, which has rejected Israel’s demand to disarm.

Speaking at the White House, Trump voiced confidence that the truce would endure, saying: “They’re all tired of the fighting.” He added that there was a “consensus” on the next steps, though some details still needed to be finalised.

Both Israelis and Palestinians celebrated the agreement, which promises to end a conflict that has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians — mostly civilians — and to return the remaining hostages captured during the deadly Hamas assault that triggered the war.

During Hamas’s attack on Israeli communities, military bases, and a music festival on 7 October 2023, militants killed 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and took 251 hostages.

Trump is expected to visit the region on Monday, where he will address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament — becoming the first U.S. president to do so since George W. Bush in 2008.

He said he would also travel to Egypt, with other world leaders expected to attend the regional meetings.

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