Thousands of Palestinians Return to Gaza Areas Vacated by Israeli Forces
GAZA CITY, Palestine / ISTANBUL — NEWS DESK | PRESS UPDATE
Civilians Begin Journey Home After Ceasefire
Tens of thousands of Palestinians began returning on Friday to areas left by Israeli forces after a ceasefire took effect, according to an Anadolu correspondent.
Many displaced families traveled northward from southern Gaza, most of them on foot. Others made the long journey using bicycles, motorcycles, animal-drawn carts, or the few vehicles still running amid severe fuel shortages.
Movement Across the Gaza Strip
At the same time, thousands of people returned to central Gaza and eastern Khan Younis following the Israeli withdrawal.
Most of the movement took place along Al-Rashid Street on the coast and Salah al-Din Road in the east.
For many returnees, the homecoming was heartbreaking. Some found their houses completely destroyed and were forced to set up tents on the rubble where their homes once stood.
First Phase of Israeli Withdrawal Completed
The first phase of the Israeli troop withdrawal was completed on Friday, in line with US President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
Israeli forces pulled back from Gaza City in the north, except for the Shejaiya, Al-Tuffah, and Zeitoun neighborhoods. They also withdrew from central and eastern Khan Younis in the south.
However, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia in northern Gaza remain off-limits to Palestinians.
Humanitarian Work Intensifies
The Gaza Government Media Office reported that more than 5,000 humanitarian, medical, rescue, and relief operations were carried out in the past 24 hours across Gaza’s governorates.
Trump’s 20-Point Ceasefire Plan
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first stage of a 20-point peace plan unveiled on September 29.
The plan includes a ceasefire, the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
The first phase came into effect at 12 noon local time (0900 GMT) on Friday.
Under the second phase, Gaza will have a new governing system without Hamas, and a joint security force will be formed, consisting of Palestinian troops and personnel from Arab and Islamic countries. This stage also aims for the complete disarmament of Hamas.
Humanitarian Toll
Since October 2023, Israeli operations have killed nearly 67,200 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The conflict has left much of Gaza in ruins, creating one of the worst humanitarian crises in the region’s history.
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PRESS UPDATE