On Friday, Gaza witnessed a contradictory scene reflecting the tragedy of war and the complexities of peace; hundreds of thousands of displaced people returned to their city, which they had fled under bombardment, after the Israeli occupation army announced the implementation of a ceasefire agreement at 12 noon, following its approval by the Israeli government on Thursday and Friday.

The joy of return turned into shock at the massive destruction and horrific scenes, while civil defense teams and medical crews continued to recover bodies from under the rubble. The civil defense estimates more than 300 bodies of martyrs remain unrecovered in Gaza City alone.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported 17 martyrs and 71 injured admitted to hospitals within 24 hours, with the total casualties since October 7, 2023, reaching 67,211 martyrs and 169,961 injuries. The number of “livelihood” martyrs rose to 2,615 with over 19,182 injuries following attacks on aid convoys.

Israeli forces withdrew to the lines stipulated by the agreement, pulling back combat units from Gaza City and Beach Camp amid massive destruction to homes and infrastructure.

The Civil Defense spokesperson in Gaza warned citizens against approaching or returning to areas formerly occupied by Israeli forces, especially border areas, until official confirmation of full withdrawal.

The Palestinian Interior and National Security Ministry announced its deployment in all areas vacated by the Israeli army as part of a comprehensive plan to restore order and address chaos, urging citizens to protect public and private property and avoid dangerous behaviors.

Four Israeli soldiers from the Golani Brigade were injured in an operational incident inside Gaza, including one seriously wounded. The army acknowledged a collision between a military Humvee and an Israeli tank, and admitted four soldiers, including three officers, were injured in a Palestinian infiltration operation into a military site inside the sector.

Prisoner exchange negotiations are progressing rapidly amid major obstacles. Israel refuses to release key figures including Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, Qassam Brigades leaders Abbas al-Sayyid and Hassan Salama, and Popular Front Secretary-General Ahmed Saadat, but agreed to add about 10 new names serving life sentences to the exchange lists.

Two hundred US Central Command forces arrived in Tel Aviv on an official mission to monitor the implementation of the “peace agreement,” establishing a coordination center inside the “Gaza envelope” to facilitate aid entry and oversee logistical and security aspects related to the Trump plan, without deploying inside Gaza itself.

A new phase of complexities began in Gaza, where scenes of mass return coincide with ongoing body recoveries and escalating political maneuvers over the prisoner file, summarizing the tragedy of an unresolved conflict.

Main roads leading to Gaza City saw huge waves of returning displaced people carrying simple luggage on primitive vehicles or on foot, but the joy of return turned into collective shock upon seeing cities turned into “ghosts.”

Israeli spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a press conference: “We withdrew to the agreed lines according to the agreement and will maintain the right to respond to any violation.”

Military sources confirmed the withdrawal includes the Golani Brigade and the 7th Regular Brigade, while retaining the capability for rapid strikes.

Researcher Uri Bar-Yosef from the Israeli National Security Studies Institute said: “The withdrawal is not the end but a strategic redeployment.”

Senior security officials warned that Barghouti represents an existential threat to the current political model in the West Bank, with experts stating his release could end security coordination and lead to a unified, hostile Palestinian leadership.

Israeli Channel 12 revealed intelligence reports warning that releasing Barghouti would reshape the entire Palestinian political map.

US Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said US forces will establish a coordination room to support humanitarian efforts and monitor agreement implementation.

An American official told Axios news site the military presence aims to prevent the collapse of the agreement and ensure aid delivery.

Brookings Institution researcher Tamara Cofman noted this is the first time US forces have deployed so close to Gaza, reflecting the agreement’s importance to the Trump administration.

The UN representative in Palestine described the destruction as “unprecedented,” requiring exceptional international efforts for reconstruction.

The International Crisis Group warned the current ceasefire is fragile and requires strong international guarantees.