Last Saturday, residents of the Gaza Strip were stunned to see well-secured trucks bearing the Egyptian flag entering the enclave, offering Palestinians free transport from southern Gaza to the north. The convoy moved like blood returning to the veins of a body that had once been declared dead, many said, and a Strip that Israeli soldiers had described as “Zombie Land.”
As civilians made their journey northwards, they saw streets that had borne witness to some of the most harrowing scenes of violence and pain and events that the world had unanimously condemned. No one could endure the injustice inflicted upon them, yet Egypt remained steadfast beside its Palestinian brothers, persistently calling for peace.
Its unwavering appeals were heard by the United States, which worked to craft a plan to halt one of the most brutal wars of the past decade and a conflict in which both sides had become locked in endless cycles of revenge, too often at the expense of innocent lives.
On 4 October, US President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Israel has agreed to an initial withdrawal line, which had been shown to Hamas. “When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE. Thank you for your attention to this matter and, STAY TUNED,” Trump wrote, employing his characteristic capitals and emphases.
As Times of Israel correspondent Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian wrote, “the initial withdrawal line, according to Trump’s map, shows Israel’s approximate lines of control in the Strip prior to the major Gaza City offensive, which began last month. Before the withdrawal, the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] held some 70 per cent of Gaza’s territory.”
“It would mean that the IDF would continue to maintain a presence in southern Gaza’s Rafah and Khan Younis and large portions of the Strip’s north, along with its buffer zone in other parts of the territory.”
The Israeli withdrawal from the Strip will not happen all at once. There may be a pause after the first phase, a resting stop in case there is a need to return to the fighting. The Israeli army will also not start from scratch; it will be able to move quickly from positions it has already prepared in the streets and areas before the operations stopped.
In this situation, Israel’s armoured units will be at their strongest because they will regain the ability to manoeuvre and move fast. In addition, the final preparation of infrastructure will provide better coverage from drones or helicopters to support any new advance.
According to the Times of Israel, “Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lt General Eyal Zamir told commanders in Gaza that they must be prepared to resume fighting at any time,” as the military has paused offensive activity amid a push by Trump to reach an end to the war.
Zamir said that “the campaign is not over; we must continue to be alert and prepared for combat at all times. If the political effort does not succeed, we will return to fight.”
On 10 October, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “today, we mark one of our greatest achievements… the return of all our hostages, the living and the fallen alike. This is a central goal that we have clung to throughout the entire journey.”
On the same day, the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the yellow line began in the Gaza Strip, moving to agreed-upon deployment zones as part of the deal with Hamas to secure the release of all hostages held by the militant group.
Some forces have been fully withdrawn from Gaza, while others remain positioned along the designated lines. The withdrawal took place under the cover of artillery shelling and airstrikes in certain areas. The IOF completed the pullback within 24 hours of the Israeli government’s official ratification of the agreement with Hamas, according to multiple Israeli sources.
This move has reduced the area under Israeli control from 70 to 53 per cent of the Gaza Strip. Tanks, armoured units, and paratroopers remain deployed – all forces that together have formed the spearhead of Israel’s ground offensives in previous wars.
Last Sunday, as humanitarian aid began flowing into the Strip, life slowly started to return, at least partially. Markets reopened, and residents were surprised to see armed and masked Hamas members moving among them, wearing their distinctive green headbands in scenes that came as no surprise to the Israelis.
Sherwin Pomerantz, founder and chair of the American State Offices Association, an umbrella group for US state and regional representatives based in Israel wrote in the Israeli newspaper the Jerusalem Post that “Hamas will not disappear. Truth be told, there is simply no way to eliminate an idea that is based on religious fervor unless one eliminates every single person who believes in that idea which, of course, is simply impossible to achieve.”
During two years of attrition that have drained Hamas of both personnel and equipment, the group, like most militias, has not fought as a conventional army would. Instead, it has relied on unconventional tactics such as hiding in tunnels and carrying out indirect attacks, even at the cost of sacrificing innocent civilians to achieve its objectives.
It will be intriguing in the coming days to learn the fate of the Palestinian militias fighting alongside Israeli forces. Despite the lack of clear activity limited to patrols, sweeps, and a few minor clashes, they are currently in a period of rest for preparation, training, and readiness to operate in the future as an arm of the Israeli forces.
Undoubtedly, this conflict had to come to a halt. It has made many realise that the Middle East is no longer as they knew it and that it has become fragile and more prone to collapse.
The best path forward is not war but rather respect for international law and a firm commitment to peace. This is the truth that Egypt’s wise leadership has consistently emphasised over the past two years. It is also what has ultimately happened, even as this round has come to an end with the long-standing conflict remaining unresolved.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 16 October, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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