‘Happiest day of our lives’: Displaced residents return to Gaza City
War-displaced Palestinians in Gaza are hopeful as they head north after the ceasefire with Israel came into effect.
“Of course this is an indescribable day – the happiest day of our lives. Today, the war has ended,” Ali Rihan told Al Jazeera. “We ask the negotiators to complete the negotiations in full and to arrange [for everyone] to return across the entire Gaza Strip, God willing. We are heading home, very happy … May God bless the Arab Republic of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye for their good efforts, and special thanks as well to Trump.”
Another displaced Palestinian, Mahira al-Ashi, said she was overjoyed to be able to return to Gaza City. “By God, when they opened the road, I was so happy to go back … I didn’t sleep all night,” she said. “My family is there. I’ve been waiting to see them and go to them.”
Another returnee, Wael Debabesh, also expressed relief. “I was sleeping in the street – no tent, nothing. I was getting by with the neighbours’ help,” he said. “Now, God willing, there’s a truce, and God willing the war won’t come back – ever, ever. We don’t want wars or any of this. We are a people who seek peace, we are lovers of peace. Now we just want to go back to our homes.”
Gaza City unrecognisable after intense Israeli assault
On the way to Gaza City, as we approached the main entrance on the coastal road, it was already unrecognisable by the vast destruction and devastation of many of the buildings.
During our displacement journey, when we left the city, we counted 15 buildings either partially standing or still fully intact, inhabited by some of the displaced families.
On our way back, we did not see them. We thought we were lost on the road because those buildings were not there, and as we drove deeper inside the city, entire streets were levelled to the ground. Not just the buildings on both sides, but the road itself.
Gaza has turned into an unrecognisable place. The bombs have stopped, but the struggle to survive has not for those returning.
