Hundreds of Thousands of Palestinians Return to Northern Gaza

After the establishment of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun to return to their homes. According to local sources, almost 250,000 people have already returned to Gaza City, where the most intense military operations have recently taken place. "It is noted that another approximately 200,000 Palestinians have returned to the northern regions of the Gaza Strip."

The agreement on a ceasefire and the return of those captured by Hamas on October 7, 2023, officially came into force on October 10. Despite this, the situation remains tense. "Israel has stated that the IDF forces have withdrawn to the agreed lines," but will not leave the Gaza Strip until Hamas is neutralized. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to use force again if necessary.

In turn, Hamas has expressed hope that the war has been permanently stopped. At the same time, the movement has ruled out that "external forces" could control Gaza after the conflict is resolved. However, Hamas and other groups have welcomed Arab and international participation in the post-war reconstruction of the region. The movement has also stated that it does not intend to dissolve at Israel's demand, but could instead "be integrated into a future Palestinian army."

Against the backdrop of these events, the Israeli side has updated the number of military personnel killed since October 2023. According to official data, 914 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the start of the war, 467 of whom were killed during ground operations in Gaza.