Gaza ceasefire - 200,000 Palestinians head back to shattered homes after two years of war | BBC News

Key Concepts Ceasefire Agreement (Phase One), Israeli-Hamas Conflict, Hostage Release, Prisoner Exchange, Humanitarian Aid, Displacement and Return of Palestinians, Destruction in Gaza, Allegation of War Crimes, Trump 20-point Peace Plan, Demilitarization of Gaza, Future Governance of Gaza, Hostage Square (Tel Aviv), Survivors' Guilt, Palestinian National Heroes.

Overview of the Ceasefire Agreement and Initial Implementation

The ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, approximately 12 hours old, has halted bombing following its approval by the Israeli government. As part of the deal, Israel has pulled back its troops to agreed positions, marked by a yellow line, though the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) state they will continue to address any immediate threats. This withdrawal initiated a 72-hour countdown, concluding midday Monday, during which Hamas must release the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages and return the remains of 28 deceased individuals. In reciprocity, Israel is obligated to release 250 Palestinians from jail and 1,700 people detained in Gaza during the war. This constitutes Phase One of the agreement. Phase Two, focusing on the rebuilding and future governance of Gaza, remains largely unsettled with "much of the detail sketchy and far from settled." International journalists are currently barred from entering Gaza by Israel.

Palestinian Return and Devastation in Gaza

The partial Israeli withdrawal triggered a mass return of up to 200,000 Palestinians to their shattered towns and villages, many undertaking journeys of up to 20 miles on foot. These individuals have been deprived of adequate food and clean water due to Israeli blockades. The cost of transport, such as a ride north in Gaza City for around £900, is prohibitive for those who have lost everything. Prior to the full ceasefire, the IDF used crowd control measures, with tanks opening fire to warn people against moving further along roads and social media advisories to stay on the coast road, warning that approaching Israeli troops would endanger lives.

Palestinians are returning to a "world of rubble." Fedahar, returning to Gaza City, could not even locate the ruins of her multi-story home, stating, "I knew it was leveled, but where is it? I can't find it. What do we do with our lives? Where will we live?" Similarly, Muhammad in Sheek Radwan found only remnants of his old life, including a perfectly preserved jacket in a suitcase, describing the moment as "very difficult" and bringing back memories of his family and childhood, wishing he "never had to experience this moment." Muhammad Zakot, after a 5-hour walk from Derapala, found his house so shattered that even a slight tug threatened its collapse. He remarked, "When I first got here, I honestly didn't recognize it. If it weren't for the neighbors who told me where it was, I wouldn't know. The area's landmarks have changed like an earthquake hit it. There is no house left." The extensive flattening of civilian homes in Gaza City, if "without a military purpose, it amounts to a war crime." Despite the withdrawal, the IDF still occupies more than half of the Gaza Strip. Clause four of the ceasefire agreement stipulates that the IDF will not return to areas they've withdrawn from, provided Hamas fully implements its side of the bargain.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Significant challenges loom in the implementation of the "Trump 20-point peace plan," which is "light on detail." A key point of contention is disarmament: the plan calls for weapons to be "placed permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning," but "there is no agreed process." Hamas insists on retaining some weapons, while Israel demands their complete removal. The visible presence of armed men from Hamas Internal Security in Gaza City, a unit "most feared by Palestinians," signals Hamas's intent to show it "is not beaten," which is "not what Israel wants to see." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu articulated his strategy: "We are encircling Hamas from all directions ahead of the next stages of the plan in which Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarized. If this is achieved the easy way, all the better, and if not, it will be achieved the hard way." He hailed bringing the hostages home as a "tremendous achievement in the war of redemption."

Humanitarian aid is a critical need. Israel has informed the UN that more aid can be brought in from next week, with a commercial shipment already observed heading north through Gaza City. The UN has 172,000 tons of supplies stockpiled just outside Gaza. Over 2 million people require food, clean water, shelter, and medical care, and 700,000 children, who have had little or no education for two years, need temporary classrooms.

The human cost is profound. The Anlja family in Khan Younis exemplifies this, having lost their 11-year-old son, Marmon, collecting firewood less than a week before the ceasefire. His mother, Harish, stated, "This isn't a moment of joy. There is no joy at all. I can't believe it was after Mman was killed that Hamas agreed to the deal. Anyone whose heart isn't broken can feel joy today. But no joy can enter a broken heart." Their home remains inaccessible, leaving the family "in limbo."

Israeli Perspective and Hostage Square

In Tel Aviv, "Hostage Square," a public memorial opposite the main art museum, has served as a "place of healing and devotion" and a "meeting place where hope has been kept alive" for the families of Israeli hostages. The atmosphere is one of expectation mixed with "quiet dread." Naomi Patel Adler, a survivor of the Hamas attack whose friends were kidnapped, expressed a cautious hope: "I'm cautiously reminding myself that maybe we can go back to being genuinely happy, genuinely calm, that it might actually be over, that these people might be coming home to their families... and maybe that I can go back home also." Julie Benamese, whose parents were captured and later released, highlighted the pervasive "survivors' guilt" among those who endured the ordeal: "Everyone felt guilty in some way. I feel guilty because I survived and there was people that not. So I think everyone has some guilt." This is described as a "twisted but understandable shame." There is a collective hope that with the release of all remaining hostages, alive and dead, Hostage Square will no longer be needed, and "Life can begin again."

Complications and Future Negotiations

The path ahead remains "bumpy." While Israel has prepared a list of Palestinian prisoners for release, the top six individuals Hamas specifically requested, whom Israelis regard as "terrorist kingpins" (including Mr. Bagouti, seen by some as a potential future Palestinian president or "Palestinian Nelson Mandela"), are not being released. These individuals, along with "lifers and 1,700 people who've been picked up and held without trial," are "seen as national heroes by the Palestinians."

Beyond the prisoner exchange, "really difficult negotiation" is anticipated regarding the interpretation of the Trump 20-point document. A significant point of contention has already emerged: Trump's vision of a "so-called board of peace chaired by him as the supreme supervisory body" for the first stage in the Gaza Strip has been "rejected this evening by Hamas" and other Palestinian factions. They assert that Gaza "should be governed by Palestinians and not by foreigners." This represents a "big bone of contention potentially," indicating that the process "is not going to be an easy process," contrary to Donald Trump's optimistic outlook for "peace forever."

Synthesis/Conclusion

The current ceasefire offers a fragile respite from violence, enabling the initial steps of hostage and prisoner exchanges and the potential for increased humanitarian aid. However, the profound devastation in Gaza, coupled with the immense human suffering and displacement, underscores the monumental task of recovery. The implementation of the broader peace plan faces significant hurdles, particularly concerning the disarmament of Hamas, the future governance of Gaza, and the contentious issue of prisoner releases. The emotional scars of the conflict, evident in the grief of displaced Palestinians and the survivors' guilt among Israelis, highlight the deep-seated complexities that will challenge any lasting resolution. The current agreement is merely a preliminary step in a long and arduous journey towards stability and peace.