Two hundred US service members arrived in Israel to establish a joint centre coordinating humanitarian and security operations in Gaza.
Officials confirmed that no American troops will enter the enclave but will supervise the truce between Israel and Hamas.
US envoy Steve Witkoff and CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper inspected Gaza on Saturday to confirm Israel’s first withdrawal phase.
“This operation will succeed without American soldiers setting foot in Gaza,” Cooper stated, confirming his command’s leadership role.
Fragile Truce Sparks Aid and Prisoner Exchange
The ceasefire terms require Hamas to release 48 hostages by Monday, with around 20 believed to still be alive.
In exchange, Israel will free 2,000 Palestinian detainees and reopen key routes for humanitarian convoys.
Gaza authorities reported 5,000 recovery missions since the truce began, repairing utilities and reopening health services.
Relief groups completed 700 food deliveries to displaced residents across northern and central Gaza.
The World Food Programme said it would restart 145 aid centres once Israel approves expanded access for trucks.
The United Nations confirmed Israel had authorised greater humanitarian entry beginning Sunday to boost recovery efforts.
Gaza’s Residents Confront Widespread Destruction
Thousands of returning Palestinians trekked north to find their neighbourhoods flattened by two years of relentless bombardment.
Civil defence officials estimated 500,000 people had re-entered Gaza City since the truce took effect.
“When families return, they face only debris and dust,” UNICEF’s Tess Ingram reported from central Gaza.
She appealed for a “major surge of emergency assistance” to meet overwhelming humanitarian needs.
Medical teams at Shifa Hospital recovered 45 corpses from rubble within 24 hours, missing for up to two weeks.
US President Donald Trump plans to visit Egypt soon for the formal signing of the Gaza peace accord, aiming to end the war.
