For Gazans and Israelis yearning for a cease-fire and a deal to free hostages, feelings of cautious optimism have been dashed so many times that any optimism now seems incautious.
As Israeli forces pulled back from much of Gaza, residents began their way home through a landscape of destruction, to a city nothing like what they knew.
Israel is determined to invade Rafah. The U.S. is still waiting for its plan. adn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from adn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Israel has warned Washington that its war against Hamas cannot be won without taking Rafah, home to more than 1 million displaced Gazans. The U.S. is deeply concerned.