“Palestinians Begin Return to Gaza Homes After 15 Months of Displacement Amid Destruction”
Palestinians in Gaza have begun the difficult journey back to their homes for the first time in 15 months, carrying only what they can manage. Many have been forced to flee multiple times due to relentless bombing, and now, with the opening of key roads as part of the ceasefire agreement, they are returning to find their homes in ruins.
The roads connecting the north and south of Gaza had been impassable for over a year, destroyed by Israeli military operations. Families now traverse a landscape scarred by war, navigating craters, makeshift bridges of rubble, and sandbanks. Despite the devastation, there is an overwhelming sense of relief and hope as loved ones reunite after months of separation.
Among those making the 20km journey is 10-year-old Samira, who has lived in constant fear, fleeing airstrikes that claimed the lives of her family members. Her home, though still standing, has been burned beyond recognition. Mohamed al-Masri, 17, also returning, describes the bittersweet moment of stepping back into what remains of his neighborhood. His father and sister were killed in the war, and his family, like so many others, has lost everything.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have streamed into the most heavily destroyed areas in northern Gaza after Israel allowed access for the first time since the early weeks of the conflict. The movement is part of a fragile ceasefire deal brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt. In exchange for the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, Palestinian prisoners are being freed, and Israeli forces are pulling back from some areas.
Israel’s response to the October 7 attack—when Hamas fighters killed approximately 1,200 people and took 250 hostages—was the heaviest bombardment Gaza has ever faced. Since then, Palestinian health officials report that over 47,000 people, mostly women and children, have died. The destruction is so immense that rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have accused Israel of genocide, an allegation Israel strongly denies.
The United Nations estimates that 90% of Gaza’s two million residents have been displaced. A recent damage assessment reveals that clearing the rubble left by airstrikes could take 21 years and cost around $1.2 billion. Despite the staggering loss, returning Palestinians are determined to rebuild.
On Monday, joyful yet exhausted crowds carried their few belongings, some selling their tents to fund their journey. Armed Hamas fighters flashed victory signs, while Israeli tanks observed from a distance. Families passing through key checkpoints were met by individuals in Egyptian Qatari Committee uniforms, rather than Israeli soldiers. Some speculate that armed men in tactical gear overlooking the scene could be US security contractors.
For many, the return is a moment of triumph and heartbreak. Fourteen-year-old Lina al-Mubaid, who survived multiple bombings, including an attack on a school where she sought refuge, is relieved to be back but mourns the loss of her grandfather and cousins. Rana Youssef, a mathematics teacher who ran a makeshift school in a displacement camp, is grateful that her home still stands, a rare comfort in a city reduced to rubble.
Despite unimaginable hardships, Palestinians remain resolute. Laborer Ali al-Hayek, returning with his nine children, expresses gratitude for the chance to be back on his homeland. No matter the destruction, many believe that Gaza will rise again.
