Thousands of displaced Palestinians made their way back across the scarred landscape of Gaza on Friday, walking through ruins and shattered streets to find what was left of their homes. The ceasefire, which began earlier that day, brought a brief silence after two years of relentless conflict, allowing families to step cautiously into what once were vibrant neighborhoods.
Along the coastal road leading north to Gaza City, long lines of people moved on foot — some carrying children, others pulling carts — toward the city that only days ago was under heavy bombardment. “Thank God my house is still standing,” said 40-year-old Ismail Zayda in the Sheikh Radwan district. “But everything else is gone — my neighbours’ homes, entire streets. It’s all destroyed.”
In the south, Khan Younis lay in ruins. Once Gaza’s second-largest city, it was reduced to dust and debris. Among those walking through the devastation was Ahmed al-Brim, pushing a bicycle loaded with scraps of timber — the only thing left of his family’s home. “We couldn’t take anything, not even winter clothes,” he said quietly. “Everything we owned has vanished.”
Palestinian medical teams recovered over 100 bodies from areas where Israeli troops had withdrawn. The grim discoveries highlighted the devastating toll of the war, which has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and displaced hundreds of thousands more.
The ceasefire and prisoner exchange — part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan — marked the most significant step toward peace since the conflict began. Under the agreement, Israeli troops have begun to pull back from urban zones while Hamas is expected to release the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages in the coming days. In exchange, Israel will release over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Speaking at the White House, Trump expressed optimism that “they’re all tired of fighting” and voiced confidence that a “consensus” for peace was forming. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, insisted that Hamas must disarm — “the easy way or the hard way.”
Meanwhile, Hamas rejected any form of “foreign guardianship,” declaring that Gaza’s future must be decided by Palestinians alone.
As the day unfolded, the roads once blocked by tanks and soldiers slowly opened, and a steady stream of people began to return home. Mahdi Saqla, 40, walked north with his family, knowing their home no longer stood. “Even if it’s rubble,” he said, “it’s still home. That alone gives us hope.”
The ceasefire has offered a fragile glimpse of peace — but uncertainty remains. The ruins of Gaza are a stark reminder of the cost of war, yet amid the ashes, the resilience of its people endures. They return not only to rebuild their homes but also to reclaim their dignity, their memories, and their right to live without fear.
