After Israel permitted their passage in accordance with the ongoing ceasefire, columns of Palestinians traveling with what they might have brought with them headed for north Gaza.
This week, Israel allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees to begin making their way back to their homes in the north. Despite the crowds’ dwindling by Tuesday, thousands of people traveling by car, truck, or motorcycle were all aware of the fact that they only had rubble to wait for them.
Saif al-Din Qazaat, who had returned to northern Gaza but had to sleep in a tent next to his house, said, “I’m happy to be back at my home.”
“I kept a fire burning all night near the kids to keep them warm … (They) slept peacefully despite the cold but we don’t have enough blankets”, said the 41-year-old.
Although Mona Abu Aathra has yet to fully understand the impact of the war on her home, she was able to travel from Gaza City to the center of the country.
Her hometown, Beit Hanoon, was among the areas hardest hit by a months-long Israeli military operation which continued right up to this month’s ceasefire.
“We returned to Gaza City with nothing, and there’s no drinking water. Most streets are still blocked by the rubble of destroyed homes”, said the 20-year-old.
Despite the devastation, Abu Aathra expressed relief at being reunited with her family.
“It’s the first night we’re together again, me, my mother and my father. We gathered in Gaza City last night with my three brothers.
Since Israel opened the door for Palestinians to return on Monday morning, more than 375, 000 have entered northern Gaza, according to the United Nations on Tuesday. More than a third of the a million people who fled the north in the late 2023 war’s first weeks were there.
A key goal is to increase the availability of essential goods. Although aid deliveries have increased since the ceasefire began, the need remains overwhelming.
In the first four days of the ceasefire, according to the World Food Programme, more food was distributed than it did throughout December.
Source: Aljazeera
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