Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have already begun yesterday, the long journey of returning to the damaged northern Gaza as the truce between Israel and Hamas is in place and the Israeli army is withdrawing.

There were many who returned to the north all they found were ruins without knowing where they would stay from now on, but the relief they were back in their homes again released them.

Shots show yesterday’s Palestinian caravans heading to the south, with their few possessions hoping that this time the truce will last.

The ceasefire came into force after the Israeli government approved the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s agreement on the ceasefire and returning hostages on Thursday. The next phases are still under negotiation. According to the agreement, Hamas has a deadline by 12:00 on Monday to release all Israeli hostages – including 20 believed to be alive, and the other bodies 28.

Israel will also have to release about 250 Palestinian prisoners who are serving life imprisonment in Israeli prisons. Israeli military radio said 100 would be released on the West Bank and five in East Jerusalem. Others are expected to be deported.

Palestinians

Pressures from Hamas to liberate important prisoners

A Hamas senior official says the organization is in contact with mediators by pressure to release important Palestinian leaders, where Israel has so far refused to release them including Marouuan Bargouti and Ahmad.

“The Movement (Hamas) insists on their liberation and the negotiations are still ongoing,” Musa Abu Markouk told Al-Jazeera television.

He says Israel has rejected several other proposed names. When asked if they included Abdullah Bargouti, Hassan Salama, Ibrahim Hammad and Abas al-Sayed, he replied: “Yes. These are the most prominent names that possession always rejects. “

Palestinians

Questions that remain

However, there are some questions that remain on who will rule Gaza as the Israeli troops are gradually withdrawn and whether Hamas will be disarmed, as provided for in US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who unilaterally ended the truce last March, implied that Israel could again start attacks if Hamas does not hand over its weapons.

The latest truce, however, marks a key step towards ending a disastrous two -year war triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel in 2023. The battles have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and have displaced about 90% of the Gaza population.