In a poignant scene that echoes with uncertainty and resilience, columns of Palestinians, burdened with the few belongings they could carry, have commenced their journey towards northern Gaza for the second consecutive day. This movement comes on the heels of Israel’s decision to permit their return under the terms of a fragile ceasefire.
“I’m relieved to be back at my home,” Saif Al-Din Qazaat shared, though he faced the harsh reality of sleeping in a tent adjacent to what remained of his house. The desolation was palpable, yet there was a flicker of hope in his words.
“I kept a fire burning throughout the night to provide warmth for my children. They slept soundly despite the cold, though we lack sufficient blankets,” recounted the 41-year-old. This image of a father keeping vigil over his family amidst mounting chaos encapsulates the struggle many face after over 15 months of relentless conflict in this densely populated enclave.
As the sun rose yesterday, Israel allowed hundreds of thousands of formerly displaced Gazans to return to the north. While the initial frenzy has since moderated, thousands still traverse the remnants of their lives, fully conscious that ahead lies merely rubble and memories of what once was.
The journey home signifies more than just a physical relocation; for many, it represents a confrontation with the stark realities wrought by war. The stories unraveling through the streets hold a weight that transcends mere words.
Along the Salah al-Din road in Nuseirat, families prepared meals next to vehicles filled with their few possessions, navigating the route to northern Gaza. Among them was Mona Abu Aathra, who journeyed from central Gaza to Gaza City, still grappling with the full impact of the ongoing turmoil on her home.
“We returned to Gaza City virtually empty-handed and without access to drinking water. Most streets remain blocked by the rubble of decimated homes,” the 20-year-old lamented. Yet amidst the destruction, a semblance of joy flickered as she embraced her family. “It’s our first night together again—me, my mother, and my father. Last night, we reunited with my three brothers who had remained in Gaza City,” she recalled, her voice a mixture of relief and sorrow.
The Hamas government announced that approximately 300,000 people returned north on the first day; however, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimated the number to be around 200,000. The return had been initially slated for Saturday but was delayed due to accusations against Hamas for failing to release an Israeli hostage, Arbel Yehud.
Only after Hamas agreed to release her and two other hostages did Israel open the passage early Monday morning. The return route, fraught with complications, felt like the beginning of a long and arduous journey back to an uncertain normalcy.
Mahmoud Kashko, initially undecided, said he was swept up by the wave of people returning. “I hesitated at first, unsure if I should head back to Gaza City. But witnessing the overwhelming tide of individuals making their way back compelled me to join them,” he reflected somberly. “Upon arriving at my home, I was met with desolation—my house lies in ruins like many others.”
Not everyone was ready to return; a cautious sentiment prevailed among some. Hamouda al-Amsi explained that his younger brother, Amer, and his family chose to remain in a displacement camp in the South. “They’ve decided against returning to Gaza City for now because there’s no shelter, little food, and hardly any clean water,” he said, highlighting a truth many confront: the absence of life’s basic essentials pervades the territory.
The ceasefire has seen a surge in aid deliveries; however, needs are still dire. The World Food Programme reported that more food was distributed in the initial four days of the ceasefire than during December as a whole. OCHA warned that those returning would require additional supplies like drinking water, shelter equipment, and hygiene kits—a realism that underscores the return home is fraught with challenges still yet to be addressed.
Amsi, however, was undeterred, exuding a sense of determination that many seem to share. “We will rebuild our homes. Life will return to what it once was before the events of October 7, 2023,” he asserted with a conviction that seemed to stand against the backdrop of destruction.
In the international arena, voices have weighed in on the situation. France labeled any forced displacement of Gazans as “unacceptable,” responding to comments from former President Donald Trump, who suggested relocating Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan. “Such actions would be a grave violation of human rights,” asserted a foreign ministry spokesman, underscoring the complex geopolitical dynamics at play.
Trump, in recent interviews, reiterated his views on the scenario, proposing a “clean out” of Gaza after the devastating trajectory of conflict had reduced much of it to a demolition site. “Gaza has been hell for so many years—violence has always been its companion,” he noted, highlighting the tragic legacy of the area.
As the current ceasefire lasts six weeks, there are hopes for a mutual agreement on hostage releases and a definitive end to hostilities. The plan also outlines stages of reconstruction for Gaza and the return of the last hostages who tragically lost their lives.
While discussions about post-war plans remain largely in the shadows, the spirit of resilience and determination among the returning Palestinians does not go unnoticed. It speaks to the indomitable human spirit’s capacity to hope even in the starkest circumstances—a mirror to the complexities of their situation.
Report By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring
