Two hundred US soldiers arrived in Israel to establish a joint coordination hub for aid and security support in Gaza.
Officials confirmed the deployment’s purpose was to supervise the truce between Israel and Hamas without crossing into Gaza.
US envoy Steve Witkoff and Central Command chief Brad Cooper toured Gaza on Saturday to confirm Israel’s initial troop withdrawal.
“This operation will move forward without US troops entering Gaza,” Cooper stated, confirming his command’s leadership role.
Ceasefire Brings Fragile Calm and Humanitarian Access
Under the agreement, Hamas must free 48 hostages by Monday, with roughly 20 believed to be alive.
In return, Israel will release 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and permit the entry of essential humanitarian supplies.
Gaza authorities reported over 5,000 public restoration and medical projects since the ceasefire began.
Relief teams repaired infrastructure and carried out 700 food distribution efforts across displaced communities.
The World Food Programme announced plans to reopen 145 food centres once Israel expands delivery routes.
UN officials said Israel granted permission to intensify humanitarian operations starting Sunday.
Palestinians Return to Devastated Homes
Thousands of displaced Palestinians travelled north through debris-covered streets to reach what remains of their homes.
Civil defence officials said around 500,000 people had arrived in Gaza City since the truce took hold.
“When families return, they face nothing but ruins,” UNICEF’s Tess Ingram said from central Gaza.
She called for a “massive increase in humanitarian aid” to confront the immense destruction of the two-year war.
Shifa Hospital’s director confirmed 45 bodies recovered from Gaza City ruins in the past day, missing for up to two weeks.
US President Donald Trump plans to attend a peace signing in Egypt, potentially marking the end of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
