Gaza City woke to scenes of chaos and grief on Friday as Israeli helicopter and air raids struck parts of the city, killing at least seven people, just hours before the first phase of a ceasefire with Hamas officially took effect at noon (09:00 GMT). The attacks cast a shadow over what many hoped would mark the beginning of calm after months of relentless bombardment.
Officials at Al-Ahli Hospital confirmed to Al Jazeera that seven bodies had been recovered from multiple sites across Gaza City following Israeli strikes east of the area. Witnesses described explosions and gunfire echoing across neighbourhoods already reduced to rubble from earlier attacks.
Meanwhile, thousands of displaced Palestinian families began making their way back toward Gaza City, cautiously returning to what remains of their homes after enduring months of war in makeshift shelters. “We just want to see what’s left,” one resident told reporters. “Even if it’s nothing, it’s still our home.”
Israeli Forces Begin Pullback Amid Ceasefire Implementation
The Israeli military released a statement confirming that its troops had repositioned “in accordance with the outline of the ceasefire agreement,” adding that forces under the Southern Command would “continue to operate to eliminate any immediate threat.” The statement underscored Israel’s intention to maintain readiness despite the ceasefire’s initiation.
According to Al Jazeera Arabic, Israeli forces also carried out air raids in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, accompanied by tank shelling north of the city. While no casualties were immediately reported there, the attacks heightened fears among residents that the truce might not hold.
These strikes marked the first reported assaults since Israel’s government ratified the initial phase of a ceasefire deal with Hamas late Thursday night. The agreement includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from parts of Gaza and a prisoner exchange between both sides.
Uncertainty on the Ground as Air Activity Continues
Al Jazeera’s correspondent, Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Nuseirat in central Gaza, said that despite Israel’s claims of withdrawal, “there has been high activity of Israeli drones, fighter jets, and even warships since the early hours of this morning.”
He noted that families attempting to return north were being held back at the edge of the Netzarim Corridor, a heavily militarized zone that had been occupied by Israeli troops.
“They are waiting for the last Israeli tank to leave the region before entering their neighborhoods,” Abu Azzoum said, adding that some residents feared renewed clashes or stray attacks before the ceasefire fully stabilizes.
Gaza’s Civil Defense Department urged residents to remain away from border zones and damaged areas until Israel’s complete withdrawal is confirmed. Officials warned that unexploded ordnance and structural collapses pose life-threatening risks across many parts of the city.
Ceasefire Terms and Humanitarian Provisions
The Israeli government’s approval of the first phase of the ceasefire marks a crucial moment in the months-long conflict. Under the agreement, Hamas is expected to release several Israeli captives within 72 hours, while Israel gradually pulls its forces from populated areas of Gaza.
Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya told local media that the group had received guarantees from the United States and regional mediators confirming that the truce “means the war in Gaza has ended completely.”
The deal also includes provisions for massive humanitarian aid deliveries. Approximately 600 trucks carrying food, medical supplies, and fuel are expected to enter Gaza daily. For the first time since October 2023, movement along Salah al-Din and Rashid roads — Gaza’s main north-south arteries — will be permitted, allowing aid to reach communities that had been cut off for months.
In another major development, Gaza’s Quds News Network reported that Palestinians stranded in Egypt will be allowed to return home via the Rafah crossing. Likewise, civilians from Gaza will be permitted to temporarily cross into Egypt for medical treatment and other urgent needs.
Mixed Reactions and Lingering Doubts
Despite cautious optimism, many Gazans remain skeptical about how long the ceasefire will last. “We’ve heard of ceasefires before, but the bombing always resumes,” said a displaced resident sheltering in Deir el-Balah. “We want peace, not pauses.”
Analysts also voiced concern over whether this ceasefire could evolve into a long-term peace framework. While the agreement includes temporary relief, political divisions and distrust between the parties continue to cast doubt on its durability.
Israel maintains that its forces will stay alert for any potential threats, while Hamas insists that the truce should mark a definitive end to hostilities. International observers, including UN officials, urged both sides to respect the terms and focus on humanitarian recovery.
Gaza’s Fragile Hope Amid the Rubble
As the ceasefire took effect, scenes across Gaza captured the fragile balance between relief and despair. Families sifted through debris searching for personal belongings, while children played among the ruins, unaware of the fragile peace holding over them.
“The humanitarian situation is catastrophic,” said a UN representative overseeing aid logistics in Rafah. “People are without clean water, medical care, or shelter. Every hour of delay costs more lives.”
For many, the hope is that this ceasefire marks not just a pause in violence but the beginning of a broader peace process that could end Gaza’s long nightmare of destruction and displacement.
“The truce may hold or it may break,” one Gaza City resident said, standing before what was once her home. “But we are tired of fear. We only want to live again.”