Following the implementation of the ceasefire, Israel has begun withdrawing its troops from the Gaza Strip. According to Turkey’s state-run news agency Anadolu, Israeli forces have already pulled out from several areas, including Gaza City and Khan Younis.
The withdrawal began on Friday through the “Yellow Line” crossing along the Israel-Gaza border. By Saturday, Israeli troops had retreated from Gaza City’s central neighborhoods—Shejaiya, Al-Tuffah, and Zeitoun—as well as from the eastern and southern parts of Khan Younis. Officials from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that troops will be gradually withdrawn from the remaining parts of Gaza in phases.
As news of the troop withdrawal spread, displaced Palestinians began returning to their hometowns. By Saturday evening, hundreds of thousands had left temporary shelters in southern Gaza to return to their own areas. Due to a shortage of fuel and vehicles, many were seen making the long journey on foot.
Residents who had taken refuge in shelters across southern and central Gaza also started heading back toward northern Gaza, traveling mainly via Al-Rashid Street and Salah al-Din Road. However, upon returning, many found their homes reduced to rubble. Israeli military operations have left nearly 90 percent of Gaza’s buildings completely destroyed, while the remaining 10 percent are severely damaged.
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, about 5,000 recovery and relief missions are currently underway across the war-torn enclave to provide food, healthcare, and humanitarian aid, as well as to recover bodies trapped under the debris.
On September 29, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new ceasefire plan for Gaza from the White House. After both Israel and the Gaza-based group Hamas agreed to the proposal, the ceasefire officially took effect on October 10.
The conflict traces back to October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters infiltrated Israeli territory, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages — the deadliest attack in Israel’s 77-year history. In retaliation, Israel launched a massive military campaign in Gaza the next day. Over the nearly two-year offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, and around 170,000 others injured.