Israeli forces have begun withdrawing from several districts across Gaza, marking what appears to be the first visible step toward the implementation of the newly declared ceasefire. Witnesses reported columns of military vehicles leaving areas of Gaza City and Khan Younis, cities that have endured months of devastation under relentless bombardment. For many residents, the sight of retreating tanks stirred both relief and disbelief, as they emerged cautiously from shelters to find their neighbourhoods reduced to rubble.

While the scale of the withdrawal remains limited, the move has brought a temporary calm to areas long subjected to daily attacks. Yet, in the distance, the hum of drones still echoes, and bursts of gunfire remind the population that true peace remains uncertain. Many families who attempted to return to their homes found nothing but ruins, their streets buried beneath debris and the memories of those lost. The supposed end of military operations has done little to ease the trauma of two years of genocidal war that have left Gaza scarred beyond recognition.

For the people of Gaza, the ceasefire brings a fragile sense of hope shadowed by deep scepticism. Promises of withdrawal have been made before, often followed by renewed violence. As night falls over the ruins of Gaza, the question remains whether this pullback marks the beginning of a lasting peace, or merely a pause before yet another storm.