Daijiworld Media Network – Gaza

Gaza, Oct 10: Tens of thousands of Palestinians began walking north to return to their homes on Friday after the Israeli military announced that a ceasefire agreement with Hamas came into effect at noon, with troops withdrawing to designated deployment lines.

The announcement came after reports of heavy shelling in northern Gaza Friday morning. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the Cabinet approved President Donald Trump’s plan for a ceasefire, which includes the release of all remaining hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The approval covers the "outline" of the deal to release hostages, though other aspects, including Hamas’ disarmament and governance of Gaza, remain unresolved.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the hostage and prisoner release will be more complex than previous operations due to the scale and speed required. Chief spokesman Christian Cardon noted that while the ICRC will assist, details of the timing and locations have not been finalized. The deal requires hostages to be released from Gaza within 72 hours, a "tight" timeframe, Cardon said.

Palestinians who fled Gaza during the war or before it started are now allowed to return after security checks by Israel and Egypt. Humanitarian measures will mirror those of the previous January 2025 ceasefire, including 600 trucks daily carrying food, medical supplies, and fuel into Gaza. Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed that the Rafah border crossing with Egypt will reopen in both directions alternately starting October 14.

Netanyahu hailed the ceasefire as a step toward achieving Israel’s goal of hostage recovery, saying Hamas agreed to the deal under pressure. He assured citizens that all hostages, without exception, will be returned, while Israel will continue efforts to demilitarize Hamas. Under the agreement, 48 hostages remain in captivity, with around 20 believed alive, and Israel will release about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners—though high-profile prisoner Marwan Barghouti is excluded.

Following the ceasefire announcement, large crowds in Wadi Gaza began moving north. Residents like Fayez AlMajdoub expressed urgency to check the safety of their homes. Israeli officials warned Palestinians to avoid areas where troops remain deployed, including Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya, Al-Shujaiyya, Rafah crossing, and parts of Khan Younis.

Despite the ceasefire approval, shelling continued in northern and southern Gaza early Friday, with low-flying military aircraft reported over central Gaza. Hospital officials confirmed that shelling persisted even after the Cabinet decision.

US officials stated that a civil-military coordination center will be established in Israel to oversee the ceasefire, ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid, logistics, and security support in collaboration with partner nations, NGOs, and private sector entities.

The ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope after a devastating two-year war, though significant challenges remain in restoring normalcy and addressing governance and security in Gaza.