Roughly 200 US soldiers arrived in Israel to establish a joint operations centre supporting aid delivery and logistics for Gaza.
Officials confirmed the troops will remain outside Gaza while managing the ceasefire framework between Israel and Hamas.
US envoy Steve Witkoff and Central Command leader Brad Cooper inspected Gaza on Saturday to confirm Israel’s troop withdrawal.
“This mission will proceed without American soldiers entering Gaza,” Cooper stated, confirming Central Command’s leadership role.
Ceasefire Spurs Relief and Prisoner Exchange
Hamas agreed to release 48 hostages by Monday, with Israeli officials estimating about 20 still alive.
In exchange, Israel pledged to free 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and reopen routes for humanitarian supplies.
Authorities in Gaza said over 5,000 repair and recovery operations have started since the truce began.
Teams restored damaged utilities, ran medical operations, and coordinated 700 food aid missions for displaced residents.
The World Food Programme announced plans to reopen 145 distribution sites once Israel expands access for deliveries.
The UN confirmed Israel’s approval to scale up humanitarian activity beginning Sunday.
Gaza Residents Return to Widespread Destruction
Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians moved north, hoping to return to their demolished neighbourhoods.
Gaza’s civil defence estimated that 500,000 people had already reached Gaza City since the ceasefire began.
“When families return, they face ruins where homes once stood,” UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram said from central Gaza.
She called for a “massive flow of aid” to meet urgent humanitarian needs after two years of war.
Shifa Hospital staff reported 45 bodies recovered from Gaza City rubble over the past 24 hours.
US President Donald Trump plans to travel to Egypt for a signing ceremony marking the Gaza peace accord’s next phase.
