As Israel ‘s troops began pulling back from some parts of Gaza on Friday under a ceasefire deal with Hamas, some residents returned to shattered neighbourhoods, unsure about their safety after two years of warfare.

“Thank God my house is still standing,” said Ismail Zayda, 40, in the Sheikh Radwan area in Gaza City. “But the place is destroyed, my neighbours’ houses are destroyed, entire districts have gone.”Is it over? They said it is. Why does no one come out and tell us whether there is a ceasefire and we can stop being afraid?”

Israel’s government ratified the ceasefire with Hamas in the early hours of Friday, clearing the way to pull back troops and fully suspend hostilities in Gaza within 24 hours. Israeli hostages held there are to be freed within 72 hours after that, in return fo

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