Israel Begins Withdrawing Troops from Gaza, Palestinians Return Home

Following the implementation of a ceasefire, Israel has begun withdrawing its troops from the Gaza Strip. According to Turkey’s state-run news agency Anadolu, Israeli forces started retreating through the “Yellow Line” crossing at the Israel-Gaza border from Friday.

As of Saturday, Israeli forces had pulled out from several areas, including Shejaiya, Al-Tuffah, and Zeitoun neighborhoods in Gaza City, as well as the eastern and southern parts of Khan Younis in the south. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the withdrawal will continue in phases from other parts of Gaza.

In the wake of the troop withdrawal, thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun returning to their homes. By Saturday evening, large numbers of people left temporary shelters in southern Gaza and began making their way—mostly on foot due to fuel shortages and a lack of transportation—toward the devastated northern regions.

Returning residents are using the coastal Al-Rashid Street and Salah al-Din Road to reach their neighborhoods. Many residents of central Gaza, who had taken refuge in the south, are also beginning to head back to their original areas.

However, most returning Palestinians are finding their homes in ruins. Over the course of two years of Israeli military operations, about 90% of buildings in Gaza have been completely destroyed, with the remaining 10% partially damaged. With their homes reduced to rubble, many families are now living in makeshift tents.

Gaza’s Government Media Office reported that around 5,000 rescue and humanitarian missions are underway across the territory. These missions are focused on delivering food, medical aid, and retrieving bodies trapped under the debris.

The current situation stems from a major attack on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants entered Israeli territory, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. It was the deadliest attack in Israel’s 77-year history. In response, Israel launched a large-scale military offensive in Gaza on October 8.

Since then, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed and approximately 170,000 injured in the conflict. To address the humanitarian crisis, the United States introduced a new ceasefire plan, announced at the White House on September 29. Following agreements from both Israel and Hamas, the ceasefire officially took effect on October 10.