Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are returning to the heavily destroyed northern Gaza Strip for the first time since the opening weeks of Gaza’s 15-month genocide.
The delivery, delayed two days after a dispute between Hamas and Israel over the release of an Israeli captive, is in line with a fragile ceasefire deal agreed to a week ago. The ceasefire aims to end the deadliest and most destructive war ever waged on Gaza, and guaranteeing the release of captives and prisoners held by Hamas and Israel, respectively.
Palestinians, who for months have sheltered in squalid tent camps and schools-turned-shelters, are eager to return to what remains of their homes, likely damaged or destroyed due to the Israeli assault.
Hamas said the return was “a victory for our people, and a declaration of failure and defeat for the (Israeli) occupation and transfer plans.”
Israel had ordered the wholesale evacuation of the north in the first days of the war in October 2023 and sealed it shortly after ground troops entered.
Around a million people fled to the south, while thousands remained in the north, which saw some of the heaviest fighting and worst destruction caused by the war.
Many feared Israel would make their exodus permanent and expressed fears of ethnic cleansing after US President Donald Trump called on Egypt and Jordan to settle Gaza’s Palestinians on their soil.
