Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have returned to Gaza City to find widespread devastation after months of conflict. As a fragile ceasefire takes hold, Hamas warns that the next phase of the United States-led peace plan will be even more challenging, with the group resisting calls to disarm and refusing to attend the formal signing of the Gaza peace deal in Egypt. Under the proposed agreement, Israel will gradually withdraw from Gaza, to be replaced by a multinational force, while the exchange of hostages and prisoners is set to proceed in the coming days. Despite the influx of humanitarian aid, returning residents describe scenes of utter ruin, with many homes destroyed and entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. The conflict has left tens of thousands dead, with the majority of casualties being women and children, and the path to a lasting peace remains uncertain.