On the first full day of peace in Gaza, rescue workers and civilians faced the overwhelming devastation across the Strip.

Gaza’s Civil Defence agency, the primary emergency response service, estimated that over 10,000 bodies remain trapped beneath the ruins. Spokesman Mahmoud Basal told the BBC that while they aimed to recover the dead within 100 days, shortages of bulldozers and essential equipment could cause significant delays.

New images from Gaza, following Sunday’s ceasefire, revealed extensive destruction, particularly in the north, after 15 months of Israeli military operations. The UN previously estimated that 60% of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed.

Although celebrations marked the ceasefire's start, the humanitarian crisis remains dire. According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), more than two million Gazans are homeless, without income, and entirely dependent on food aid. Aid convoys began entering Gaza immediately after the ceasefire, with 630 trucks arriving on Sunday and an additional 915 on Monday—the highest daily total since the war began.

Sam Rose, acting director of UNRWA in Gaza, emphasized that rebuilding the Strip would require much more than food and supplies. "It’s not just about infrastructure; entire communities need to be restored. The trauma, suffering, and loss endured over the past 16 months will take years to heal," he said.

Meanwhile, in Israel, families of three released hostages spoke at a news conference in Tel Aviv, expressing relief but urging further action to bring all captives home. If the ceasefire holds, 30 more hostages are expected to be freed in exchange for approximately 1,800 Palestinian prisoners.

Palestinian health officials estimate that over 46,900 people have been killed and more than 110,700 wounded during the war, with the majority of the casualties being women and children. A UK-led study published in The Lancet suggests the death toll could be even higher.

Gaza’s Civil Defence agency reported that nearly half of its personnel had been killed, injured, or detained, with 85% of its vehicles and most of its facilities damaged or destroyed. Despite the ceasefire, rescue workers continue to recover bodies from the rubble.

"In every street, there are dead. In every neighborhood, people remain trapped under collapsed buildings," said Abdullah Al-Majdalawi, a 24-year-old Civil Defence worker.

Many displaced Gazans returning to their homes find them uninhabitable. Malaak Kasab, a 23-year-old displaced resident, told the BBC that parts of her family are still buried beneath the debris. "Our home is barely standing—no doors, no windows, no water, no electricity. It’s impossible to live here," she said.

The Israeli military has begun withdrawing from populated areas but warned displaced Gazans to avoid approaching its personnel or entering restricted buffer zones near the border and the Netzarim corridor, which divides northern and southern Gaza.