‘I’d crawl if I have to’: Palestinians eager to return to northern Gaza

Ansaf Khadra and her family have spent the second day in a row waiting to be allowed to return to her home in northern Gaza at al-Nuwairi Hill, the closest point to the al-Rashid coastal road.

One of the thousands of displaced people in southern Gaza who headed for al-Rashid on Sunday after the release of four Israeli prisoners as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement the day before was Ansaf, a mother of four.

The plan was to head to al-Rashid and try to get through Israel’s Netzarim checkpoint, then, beyond that, to Gaza’s north.

As she distributed sandwiches to her young children lying on the ground, Ansaf said, “I’ve been here since early morning with my husband and children.”

She continued, “Last night I prepared whatever we could bring and left a lot of things to make walking easier.” “We couldn’t even wait a minute. We want to return to our land in the north immediately. ”

Following the second exchange of captives for prisoners on Saturday, which took place on January 19 with the first exchange of Israeli prisoners and Palestinian prisoners, was supposed to allow the return of displaced Palestinians from southern Gaza to the north.

However, Israel forcibly blocked Palestinian civilians from approaching Netzarim on Sunday, firing on the crowds on at least three separate occasions, according to medical sources, and killing at least two Palestinians, according to al-Awda Hospital, where the casualties were received. At least nine people, including a child, were wounded.

Before Palestinians were permitted to return to their homes in the north, Israel has urged that another female captive, Arbel Yehud, have been freed on Saturday.

The delay has left Palestinians here frustrated. As he sat next to his family, Muhammad Abu Dan puffed on the remains of his cigarette.

“We’ve been through so much during this war,” the 55-year-old said. We were overjoyed when they said we could go back to the north, but Israel made us wait on foot on purpose to prolong our happiness. ”

Ahmad is not interested in the delay’s technical details. His only concern is returning home to Gaza City’s Shujayea neighbourhood, away from the memories of 15 months of war and displacement.

“What’s another day or two? ” he quipped with a laugh. “We’re staying here no matter what, until they let us through. ”

As soon as the ceasefire broke out, Ahmed and his family packed up their tent and gathered everything they needed to make the difficult return trip north.

Ahmed claimed that his health and mental state had deteriorated after spending so much time living in tents and that the family has been forced to flee 11 times since the war started. In light of the experience, if he does return to the north, he has pledged never to leave, even if the ceasefire fails and war breaks out once more.

“We were forced to flee to supposedly safe areas, only to be targeted there as well,” Ahmed said. “I can’t wait to kiss Gaza City’s soil again.

“I miss my relatives and my home in Shujayea, even if partially destroyed. I miss everything and my neighborhood. ”

What is left?

While the whole of the Gaza Strip, a coastal enclave only 41 kilometres (25 miles) long, has been bombarded by Israel during its war, the north has been particularly devastated.

The region, which was the enclave’s largest urban area before the war, Gaza City, was the site of the nation’s largest urban area before the war, and the far-right settler movement has even pushed for the permanent ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and the establishment of illegal settlements there.

Vast swathes of northern Gaza now appear uninhabitable, but Ansaf has heard that her home, while severely damaged, is still standing.

“According to my neighbours, only one room and a bathroom in my house remain intact, but to me, that’s heaven compared to a life in displacement,” she said with a broad smile.

“I miss my home so much,” Ansaf added. Before the war broke out, we had only been there for nine months, and I hadn’t even finished furnishing it. ”

Unlike Ansaf, Nada Awadallah has no information about the condition of her home in Gaza’s City’s Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood. She is aware that the area around her home was a restricted Israeli military area that was difficult to enter.

However, that lack of information does not indicate that her house has been destroyed. And for Nada, that is enough to try and return.

“I can’t believe the day of return has finally come,” the 65-year-old said, tears welling in her eyes. “I’ll endure the exhaustion. I’ve been here since last night, sleeping on the street, and I’m ready to stay until we’re allowed through. ”

Early in the war, Nada and her family had fled Tal al-Hawa, where they had five children and several grandchildren, before eventually settling in a tent in southern Gaza’s al-Mawasi. And all of those family members have decided, for now, to stay where they are.

“There was a debate among us about waiting longer before heading back, but I couldn’t wait any longer,” Nada said. I said, “If I had to, I would crawl.” It’s important that I return and check my house. ”

Returning to the rubble

Mahmoud Mohsen, a 57-year-old father of seven, visited his daughter’s grave in central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah cemetery before heading towards Netzarim.

Mahmoud’s daughter, along with her husband and three children, were killed in a bombing in Nuseirat in November 2023.

At the start of the war, Mahmoud fled southward to Rafah after he was originally from Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza. After multiple displacements, he eventually settled in Deir el-Balah.

I can’t wait to go back to my house’s rubble. Nothing else matters,” Mahmoud said as he gazed towards the checkpoint. “I’ll stay here until I’m allowed through. ”

Source: Aljazeera