ISRAELI OCCUPIED AND STARVED GAZA, 12 Oct. - (ANA) - Palestinians combed through the ruins of their homes on Saturday, pulling bodies from beneath the rubble as Israel’s ceasefire took effect after two years of relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

 

According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, at least 135 bodies were recovered across Gaza in the hours after the fighting halted.

 

Dozens more were found in hospitals, including 43 at al-Shifa and 60 at al-Ahli Arab in Gaza City, with others taken to medical centres in Nuseirat, Deir el-Balah, and Khan Younis.

 

Medical officials said another 19 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes on Friday, just before the ceasefire began, including 16 members of the Ghaboun family, whose home south of Gaza City was bombed at dawn.

 

It remains unclear whether some of the strikes took place after the truce came into force at noon.

 

The pause in Israel's onslaught has allowed rescue crews to reach flattened neighbourhoods long cut off by shelling and siege.

 

Survivors returned to what remains of their homes in areas like Gaza City's Zeitoun district, carrying what little they could salvage.

 

The UN has described Gaza's destruction as "catastrophic", with more than 90 percent of housing units damaged or destroyed and most basic services in collapse.

 

While Palestinians in Gaza dug through the debris, Israel's prison authorities began transferring Palestinian detainees expected to be freed under the ceasefire deal to two main detention centres ahead of their release.

 

Those slated to return to Gaza or be expelled abroad via Rafah were moved to Ketziot Prison in the Negev, while prisoners from the occupied West Bank were transferred to Ofer Prison near Ramallah.

 

The transfers, which began late Friday, are part of preparations for the prisoner exchange outlined in the US-brokered truce plan.

 

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned against "emptying the prisons", though he and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir voted against the deal.

 

Israeli officials said talk of emptying prisons was far from reality, noting that Israel still holds about 12,000 Palestinian detainees, including 700 under military custody and 4,000 forced to sleep without beds in overcrowded cells.

 

The releases reportedly include 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 detainees from Gaza captured since October 2023.

 

Israeli forces have also ordered a crackdown on any celebrations by families of released prisoners.

 

Central Command chief Avi Blot instructed troops to prevent homecoming gatherings in Palestinian towns and villages, while the Shin Bet and intelligence services would conduct "warning talks" with families to deter them from organising public receptions.

 

Soldiers have been told to raid and dismantle any preparations for welcome events.

 

Most prisoners will be assembled at Ofer Camp in Beitunia, west of Ramallah, before being taken to a single distribution point and released to return home independently. Some will be processed at Ketziot depending on their destination.

 

Israeli intelligence sources told local media that surveillance of released prisoners had become easier due to the army's expanded presence inside refugee camps and cities.

 

"We've changed the reality," one official said. "Our forces are embedded in the camps and towns, giving us full freedom of action."

 

Palestinian human rights groups said the measures around the release expose Israel's intent to maintain full control even during a truce, combining mass incarceration with the destruction of entire communities.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/12 October 2025  - - -