Displaced Gazans Return to Devastated Homes Amid Ceasefire

Thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun returning to Gaza City following the implementation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The truce, which took effect on Friday, has allowed residents to journey back to their neighborhoods, many of which have been reduced to rubble.

In the northwest of the city, streets are lined with the remnants of apartment buildings, some completely collapsed. Residents like Hossam Majed, 31, have found their homes destroyed. Majed managed to salvage a few belongings, including furniture and a large water tank, amid the ruins. He has set up a makeshift shelter and plans to guard what remains from potential thieves. Majed described the dire conditions: "Even food is more expensive than in the south because it's scarce. There's no electricity, no water, no internet. I have to walk a kilometer and a half... just to fill two water containers."

The United Nations Development Program reports that approximately 81,000 tons of rubble have been cleared from the Gaza Strip, with efforts ongoing. In September, Israel intensified its offensive in Gaza City, targeting multi-story structures it claimed were used by Hamas as operational infrastructure.

Residents returning to areas like Khan Younis in southern Gaza have also encountered extensive destruction. Fatma Radwan, who was displaced from Khan Younis, found her home reduced to ruins. She recounted: "There was nothing left. Just a few clothes, pieces of wood and pots." People are still trying to retrieve bodies from under the rubble, she added.

The humanitarian situation remains critical, with severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. The United Nations has been granted permission by Israel to begin delivering scaled-up aid into Gaza starting Sunday, aiming to address the severe malnutrition and famine conditions triggered by the conflict.

The conflict, which began in October 2023, has resulted in significant casualties and displacement. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reports over 66,000 people in the Strip have been killed or are presumed dead, though these figures cannot be independently verified and do not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel states it has killed over 22,000 combatants in battle as of August and another 1,600 terrorists inside Israel during the Hamas-led October 7 onslaught, which killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw 251 taken captive into the enclave. Israel's toll in the ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza and in military operations along the border with the Strip stands at 473.