Roughly 200 US soldiers arrived in Israel to create a joint operations hub coordinating humanitarian and security aid for Gaza.
Officials confirmed the troops will remain outside Gaza while monitoring the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
US envoy Steve Witkoff and General Brad Cooper visited Gaza on Saturday to verify Israel’s initial troop withdrawal phase.
“This mission will move forward without American forces inside Gaza,” Cooper stated, confirming Central Command’s oversight.
Truce Sparks Major Humanitarian Push
Hamas agreed to release 48 hostages by Monday, with around 20 believed to still be alive.
In exchange, Israel will free 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and reopen routes for aid delivery.
Gaza authorities reported over 5,000 repair and relief operations since the truce took hold, including medical and infrastructure work.
Teams restored critical water systems while agencies distributed food through 700 relief missions.
The World Food Programme prepared to reopen 145 food sites once Israel expands aid access across the region.
The UN confirmed that Israel approved larger-scale relief convoys beginning Sunday to accelerate recovery efforts.
Palestinians Return to Devastated Homes
Hundreds of thousands of displaced residents walked back north through damaged streets to find their homes in ruins.
Gaza’s civil defence estimated 500,000 people had returned to Gaza City since the ceasefire began.
“When families come home, they find destruction instead of shelter,” UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram said from central Gaza.
She urged an “immediate and massive increase in humanitarian support” to counter the immense suffering left by the conflict.
Shifa Hospital’s director said 45 bodies pulled from the rubble in Gaza City arrived in the last 24 hours.
US President Donald Trump plans to travel to Egypt for the Gaza peace accord signing, potentially ending two years of bloodshed.
