Columns of people made their way from Gaza City to Jabalia on Sunday, moving through a landscape devastated by months of conflict. The ceasefire, which took effect in the Palestinian territory, offered a momentary reprieve, but the destruction in its wake was staggering.
Amid the rubble-strewn roads and ruined buildings, displaced residents like Walid Abu Jiab returned to find their homes obliterated. “There is nothing left in the north worth living for,” he lamented, surveying the ashen remains of his community.
The scene was equally bleak in Jabalia, where Fuad Abu Jilboa described the devastation as “indescribable destruction, unlike anything history has ever witnessed before.”
Despite the immense loss, joy and jubilation filled the streets as the ceasefire brought a pause to the violence. In Khan Yunis, celebrations erupted with armed men parading in pick-ups, waving Palestinian flags, and chanting. Crowds gathered, playing drums and singing, while others prepared to return to their homes.
Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, saw thousands returning even before the ceasefire began, despite delays caused by hostilities. Families packed their belongings onto trucks, carts, and bicycles, determined to rebuild their lives.
In Gaza City, bulldozers began clearing debris as officials promised to facilitate the return of residents. “We are starting today to reopen the main roads in Gaza City, preparing for the return of our displaced citizens,” announced city spokesman Asem Alnabih.
Residents like Muhammad al-Shaer expressed hope amid the wreckage, saying, “With our will, faith in God, and strength, we will rebuild and live.”
The war, sparked by Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023, has left a devastating toll. Israeli figures report 1,210 fatalities from the initial assault, mostly civilians, while Gaza’s health ministry estimates over 46,900 deaths from Israeli retaliatory strikes, figures considered reliable by the United Nations.
The ceasefire marks a step towards healing, but the path to recovery for Gaza remains daunting.
