Palestinians return to northern Gaza after Israeli withdrawal

After two years of genocide and repeated displacement, Israel and Hamas reach agreement to end the war

Thousands of Palestinians began returning to northern Gaza on Friday after a ceasefire came into effect after Israel and Hamas approved a deal to “end the war” and exchange prisoners.

The Israeli army reported that the ceasefire officially began at 12pm local time (9am GMT) after the withdrawal was completed, following the lines agreed in the first phase. There was no immediate comment from Hamas.

The Israeli government ratified the agreement on Friday morning, just hours after Hamas announced that a deal had been reached.

Israeli public broadcaster Kan on Thursday published a leaked copy of the first phase of the agreement signed in Egypt, which states that the war would “end immediately” once approved by Israel.

The document also specifies that the first step in implementation will be a formal announcement by US President Donald Trump declaring an end to the war in Gaza.

Trump is expected to visit Egypt over the weekend to participate in an official signing ceremony, followed by a visit to Israel on Monday.

On Thursday, Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya confirmed that the Palestinian movement had also approved the deal to end the war.

He added that the United States and other mediators had provided assurances that signing the agreement would mean the war would “end indefinitely.”

However, Israeli airstrikes, artillery fire and gunfire were reported in Gaza City and Khan Younis on Friday morning. There were no injuries reported.

Israeli forces also carried out shelling in Gaza on Thursday after mediators announced that a deal had been reached, killing at least eight Palestinians.

‘Enjoying’

At noon on Friday, Israeli tanks withdrew from the al-Rashid Road, which runs from south to north Gaza and which had previously been blocked to prevent displaced people from returning home.

As soon as the troops withdrew, thousands of people were seen returning to Gaza City on foot along the road.

Bilal Abu Madin, a Gaza resident, stood on the side of the road for more than an hour, witnessing thousands of people returning to their war-torn city from which they had been forcibly expelled.

He told Middle East Eye: “I’m here watching people return and I can’t believe it after everything we’ve been through. Is what we’re seeing real or a lie?”

“We were afraid that we wouldn’t be able to return to the north, but it seems that we have reached the end [da guerra].”

Abu Madin said he was with friends in central Gaza when they heard the news that Al-Rashid Street had reopened. They immediately grabbed their belongings and headed straight back, he said.

“I’m going to stay here and watch for a while to absorb everything and then I’ll go to Gaza City,” he added.

“Because when you return, everything there will be destroyed.

“We saw things in this war that not even movies could portray. I lost a lot of friends in this war.”

Abu Madin said he has no message for the world because they have witnessed everything the Palestinians have gone through.

“I hope to see Gaza great again and rebuilt.”

The next stage of the agreement is scheduled for noon on Monday – 72 hours after the completion of the withdrawal – when 20 living Israeli prisoners and several bodies are expected to be released. In return, Israel will release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences.

However, the list of those to be released has not yet been finalized. Reports on Thursday indicated ongoing disagreements over the identities of several prisoners, with Hamas pushing for the release of high-profile figures and Israel opposing it.

Among the six names allegedly contested are Marwan Barghouti, a popular Fatah military leader; Ahmad Sa’adat, head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine; and senior Hamas figures Hassan Salama, Abdullah Barghouti, Ibrahim Hamed and Abbas al-Sayed.

At least 400 aid trucks are also expected to enter Gaza, although there are no reports of their arrival so far.

Next stage

The ceasefire agreement marks the first phase of the US’ so-called “peace plan,” with subsequent steps to be negotiated later.

This is expected to include the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and the deployment of international troops to the territory.

Neither Hamas, Israel nor the mediators have clarified the timeline for these talks.

It is also unclear whether the continuation of the ceasefire depends on agreement on subsequent steps.

The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led surprise attack on Israel. Hamas cited decades of Israeli occupation, increasing violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque, the devastating blockade of Gaza and the mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners as the main reasons for the attack.

The Israeli army’s southern command — positioned along the Gaza border and tasked with monitoring Palestinians, enforcing the blockade and routinely shelling the enclave — collapsed during the opening hours of the Hamas attack, resulting in widespread chaos.

Palestinians killed at least 1,180 people in the attack, with more than 700 additional deaths reported in the fighting since then. Almost half of Israel’s total deaths are civilians, while the rest are soldiers.

In response, Israel launched a relentless bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip, followed by a devastating two-year ground invasion, accompanied by a rigorous siege of the population.

Since then, Israeli forces have killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, of whom more than 80% are believed to be civilians, according to leaked Israeli army data.

The attack also caused widespread famine and led to the destruction or damage of almost every existing structure in Gaza, including homes, hospitals, schools, mosques and churches.

Several international organizations, UN experts and countries have classified Israel’s actions as acts of genocide against the Palestinian people.

Originally published by Middle East Eye on 10/10/2025

By Ahmed Dremlyna – Faixa Central Gaza, Occupied Palestine