Tens of thousands of forcibly displaced Palestinians are heading home, crossing devastated areas of Gaza, after the long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect after more than 15 months of war.
Israel announced on Sunday that a truce with Hamas had begun at 11:15 a.m. (0915 GMT), nearly three hours after the originally scheduled date, following a last-minute delay on the orders of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Almost all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents were forcibly displaced during the 15-month genocide, in many cases multiple times.
In the northern area of Jabalia, hundreds of Palestinians streamed down a sandy path, returning to an apocalyptic landscape dotted with piles of rubble and destroyed buildings.
In the main southern city, Khan Younis, people celebrated their upcoming return home.
“I am very, very happy,” said Wafa al-Habeel. “I want to go back and kiss the ground and soil of Gaza. I want Gaza (city) and I want our loved ones.
During the delay in the ceasefire taking effect, Gaza’s civil defense agency said Israeli attacks had killed at least 19 Palestinians.
