Gaza–
Following the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, displaced Palestinians have begun returning to northern Gaza. The return started after the Israeli military announced that civilians could now travel through the coastal Rashid Road and Salah al-Din Road.
The ceasefire marks the end of a two-year-long conflict that claimed tens of thousands of lives and caused widespread destruction across the enclave. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that its troops have been redeployed along new lines in accordance with the terms of the agreement and the framework for the exchange of hostages.
Forces under the Southern Command will continue monitoring the situation and responding to any immediate threats to Israel’s security. In a message to Gaza residents, IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned civilians to avoid military zones until further notice, noting that Israeli forces would remain stationed in certain areas of the Strip.
Adraee identified Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya, and al-Shujaiya in the north, and Rafah and the Philadelphi Corridor in the south, as high-risk areas, urging civilians to stay alert. He also advised residents to stay away from the coast and border zones, warning against fishing or swimming in the coming days.
Local security sources and eyewitnesses reported that shelling and gunfire have completely ceased across the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire took effect. For the first time in months, relative calm has returned to Gaza City, the central region, Khan Younis, and Rafah.
Under the agreement, 20 live hostages and 28 bodies are expected to be released in the coming days. Israel will halt combat operations and partially withdraw from Gaza, while Hamas will release all remaining hostages in exchange for the release of more than 2,000 Palestinian prisoners by Israel.
According to Gaza health officials, two years of Israeli attacks have left Gaza in ruins, caused widespread famine, and resulted in the deaths of over 67,000 people.