About 200 US troops landed in Israel to establish a coordination centre managing humanitarian, logistical, and security aid for Gaza.
Officials confirmed the troops will not enter Gaza but will oversee the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
US envoy Steve Witkoff and Central Command chief Brad Cooper inspected Gaza to verify the IDF withdrawal’s first phase.
Cooper said his command would lead the mission without “US boots on the ground in Gaza.”
Gaza Begins Recovery Amid Ceasefire
Under the truce deal, Hamas must release 48 hostages by Monday in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Gaza officials reported over 5,000 public operations since the ceasefire began, including infrastructure and medical efforts.
They confirmed 700 humanitarian missions distributed food to displaced residents across the strip.
The World Food Programme announced plans to reopen 145 food distribution points once Israel allows expanded deliveries.
The UN said Israel approved a scale-up of aid starting Sunday.
Palestinians Return to Ruins as US Eyes Peace Deal
About 500,000 Palestinians returned to Gaza City since the truce began, civil defence officials said.
UNICEF’s Tess Ingram warned returning families will “find rubble” instead of homes and urged massive aid efforts.
Rescue teams in northern Gaza’s Shifa Hospital reported receiving 45 recovered bodies from city ruins within 24 hours.
Officials said many victims had been missing for up to two weeks after Israeli airstrikes.
US President Donald Trump plans to travel to Egypt for a signing ceremony marking the Gaza peace agreement’s formal conclusion.
