Gaza City — October 11, 2025:

Following the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun the long-awaited journey back to the northern parts of Gaza, hoping to rebuild what remains of their shattered homes.

For months, Gaza’s main coastal artery, al-Rashid Street, has witnessed waves of people fleeing southward to escape Israeli bombardments. Now, the same road is filled once again — this time with families heading north, determined to return home after Israel’s partial troop withdrawal and suspension of military operations.

> “We’re taking the same road we once fled on — the only lifeline left for Palestinians returning to Gaza City,” said Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud, reporting from the damaged central highway.

A Difficult Road Home

The journey back is anything but easy. Large sections of the road have been torn up by Israeli bulldozers, leaving deep craters and rubble that families must navigate while carrying their few remaining belongings.

From the Al Nuseirat area, reporter Tareq Abu Azzoum described a powerful scene: “Since morning, we’ve seen families walking toward Gaza City — men, women, children, elderly people, cars, vans, and donkey carts piled high with furniture. People are packing up their makeshift tents to set them over the ruins of their destroyed homes.”

Most of those returning were forced to flee Gaza City earlier in the war, only to find overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in southern and central Gaza. While many express relief at the ceasefire, the overwhelming destruction in northern Gaza makes resettlement a painful process.

> “This return is historic, but without real steps to address the humanitarian disaster, it’s a return to suffering,” Abu Azzoum noted.

Widespread Destruction and Human Loss

Entire neighborhoods in Gaza City have been reduced to rubble after months of relentless Israeli bombings and ground invasions. For most returnees, there is little left to rebuild — no intact walls, no water, and no electricity. Aid agencies warn that temporary shelters and mobile housing units are urgently needed for the thousands now heading north.

According to Gaza’s health authorities, at least 67,211 Palestinians have been killed and 169,961 wounded since Israel’s military campaign began in October 2023. The conflict erupted after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which left 1,139 Israelis dead and around 200 taken captive.

Stories of Grief and Hope

In Khan Younis, southern Gaza, 32-year-old Ameer Abu Iyadeh said, “We thank God for this truce. Even though we’re going back wounded and heartbroken, at least we are going home.”

Another returnee, Areej Abu Saadeh, 53, who lost two children in the conflict, shared her bittersweet emotions: “I am happy for the peace, even though my heart is broken. Returning to our homes — even in ruins — gives me a sense of life again.”

A Ceasefire Under Watch

The Israeli military confirmed it has withdrawn its troops to pre-agreed positions as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal with Hamas. While the truce has brought a moment of calm, many fear that without a long-term political settlement and massive reconstruction efforts, Gaza will continue to face instability.

Images emerging from the enclave show endless convoys of people — some on foot, others on donkey carts — making their way through destroyed streets like al-Jalaa and Netzarim Corridor, once cut off by Israeli forces. The scenes reflect both devastation and resilience — a population determined to reclaim its land and dignity.