Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians began returning to Gaza City and northern parts of the enclave on Saturday — the second day of a ceasefire taking effect under US President Donald Trump's plan, brokered by Egypt and Qatar ahead of the Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit. The truce prompted Israeli forces to start partial withdrawals from densely populated areas for the first time since the conflict erupted. Egypt has called for intensified diplomatic efforts to stabilise the ceasefire and pave the way for post-war political negotiations. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said he discussed preparations for the upcoming Sharm El-Sheikh summit with US Secretary of State Mark Rubio, reaffirming that Cairo "will continue its efforts to stabilise the ceasefire and achieve a lasting political solution." The summit, expected to convene Arab and European leaders alongside Trump, aims to translate the Gaza truce into a broader framework for regional peace and reconstruction. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 151 people were killed and 72 wounded in the past 24 hours, including 116 bodies recovered from beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings. Since the war began on October 7, 2023, the death toll has risen to 67,682, with more than 170,000 injured. Despite the immense devastation, Israeli media reported that the army has now pulled back beyond the so-called "Yellow Line" designated in Trump's ceasefire plan. Israeli Army Radio said some units were stationed farther back "for temporary operational reasons." Gaza's Interior Ministry confirmed that its security forces had begun redeploying at intersections and markets to restore order in areas vacated by Israeli troops. In line with the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Israel's Prison Service began transferring Palestinian prisoners slated for release from five different facilities, including Ketziot Prison in the Negev and Ofer Prison in the West Bank. The exchange reportedly covers the release of around 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 detainees from Gaza arrested after the war. Speaking at the White House, President Trump expressed confidence that the truce "will hold," adding that "the hostages will return on Monday, and about 28 bodies will be recovered." He described the accord as "a great deal for Israel, for Arabs, for Muslims, and for the entire world," confirming that he plans to visit Israel to address the Knesset before travelling to Egypt for the Sharm El-Sheikh summit. Trump said the gathering "will bring together many leaders to sign the Gaza peace agreement" and that "wealthy countries will help rebuild Gaza." He added, "The entire Middle East will enjoy peace, not just Gaza." ABC News reported that US troops have begun arriving in Israel to set up a coordination centre to oversee the Gaza agreement's implementation — without entering the enclave. Their role, officials said, will be limited to technical and logistical support. Israel's Channel 12 confirmed that six US Air Force C-17 aircraft had landed in Israel ahead of Trump's visit. The European Union welcomed the truce and urged all parties to "fully and swiftly implement the first phase of President Trump's plan to end the conflict in Gaza," expressing readiness to assist in reconstruction and humanitarian relief. In a joint statement, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine rejected "any form of foreign guardianship," insisting that "the structure and administration of Gaza is a purely Palestinian matter." Nevertheless, they expressed willingness to work with Arab and international partners on reconstruction and development efforts. The World Food Programme (WFP) called on Israel to open crossings swiftly to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Martin Frick, WFP's representative in Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein, said 60,000 tonnes of food were ready for immediate delivery, with another 100,000 tonnes en route — enough to cover Gaza's food needs for about three months if access remains secure. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Monetary Authority said it is working to restore banking operations in Gaza "as soon as possible," in coordination with humanitarian agencies and international partners to facilitate aid and financial flows. As diplomatic preparations intensify in Cairo, all eyes turn to the upcoming Sharm El-Sheikh summit — expected to mark the most significant US-brokered peace effort in the Middle East in over a decade.
