Ceasefire takes hold amid cautious optimism

Thousands of Palestinians streamed back toward northern Gaza on Saturday as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appeared to hold in its opening phase. Israeli forces pulled back from parts of the enclave, easing movements along the coastal route while aid groups worked to expand relief deliveries. Families traveled by foot, car, and donkey cart, returning to homes damaged or destroyed during the war. The first phase of the agreement focuses on halting hostilities and enabling humanitarian access, with subsequent steps tied to the release of hostages and detainees and further military withdrawals. Regional diplomats said verification mechanisms are being tested to deter violations and prevent quick relapse into fighting.

What comes next in a fragile agreement

Attention now turns to sequencing: returning the displaced, expanding aid corridors, and negotiating the next tranche of hostage-for-prisoner exchanges. Israeli officials indicated that deeper pullbacks depend on compliance benchmarks and security guarantees. Hamas leaders said their participation hinges on sustained ceasefire terms and accelerated reconstruction channels. Washington’s role includes monitoring, with international partners poised to staff coordination hubs for logistics and dispute resolution. Analysts warned that isolated incidents or spoilers could test the truce; both sides face domestic pressure that may complicate compromises. The ceasefire’s durability will be judged by whether services—water, power, health care—resume at scale, and by progress on political talks intended to end the war.