Nigeria TV Info — Palestinians Return to Northern Gaza as Ceasefire Takes Effect Under Trump-Brokered Deal

Gaza City — Palestinians have begun making their way back to northern Gaza after the Israeli military confirmed that a ceasefire is now in effect, signaling the start of a new phase in the Trump-brokered peace and hostage return deal.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Friday that its troops have pulled back to positions outlined in the Trump plan but will continue operations to “remove any immediate threat.”

This major development follows Israel’s cabinet approval of the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement.

According to the deal, Hamas has 72 hours to release all Israeli hostages, while Israel is set to free hundreds of Palestinian detainees. The truce also paves the way for hundreds of aid trucks to enter Gaza — delivering much-needed food, water, and medical supplies to over two million residents, most of whom have been displaced by months of fierce fighting.

In Gaza City, residents returning to their neighborhoods have been met with overwhelming destruction. Entire districts lie in ruins, and families are seen combing through the rubble in search of what remains of their homes.

“People are returning to scenes of total destruction,” reported BBC correspondent Rushdi Abualouf from northern Gaza. “There is little left standing.”

While the ceasefire brings a momentary sense of relief and hope after prolonged bloodshed, officials warn that the peace remains fragile. Both Israel and Hamas face immense international pressure to honor the terms of the agreement — viewed as a crucial test of the truce’s endurance and a key milestone in the Trump administration’s broader Middle East peace initiative.