In a powerful display of resilience and hope, thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun trekking back to their homes across the Gaza Strip following the implementation of a long-awaited ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The truce, which officially took effect at 12:00 PM local time on Friday, marks the first phase of a peace plan brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump and ratified by the Israeli government. As Israeli forces began withdrawing from key urban centers, including Gaza City and Khan Yunis, civilians seized the opportunity to return to their devastated neighborhoods.
A massive column of returnees, some walking over seven kilometers, moved northward along Al-Rashid coastal road and Salah Al-Din Street, Gaza’s main arteries. Many carried only what they could hold, navigating rubble-strewn paths and destroyed infrastructure.
“We’re going back to our areas, full of wounds and sorrow, but we thank God for this situation,” said Ameer Abu Iyadeh, a returnee from Khan Yunis.
Despite the destruction and uncertainty, the return of displaced families signals a turning point in the conflict and a renewed hope for peace and reconstruction. As one returnee put it, “Even if we return to ruins with no life, at least it’s our land.”