‘This is our land’: Palestinians rush to homes in northern Gaza

For the first time in 15 months of Israel’s genocidal war and forced displacement, hundreds of thousands of residents from the northern Gaza Strip began their to return to their homes on Monday.

Along the coastal Rashid Street, the scene resembled a flood—with waves upon waves of families carrying their belongings and rushing to return to their homes.

This historic return unfolded against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump‘s remarks about permanently relocate Gaza’s population to neighbouring countries, which observers describe is de facto ethnic cleansing. 

Trump recently declared that moving Palestinians in Gaza “to safer regions would pave the way for lasting peace in the region,” a statement that provoked outrage among Palestinian and international human rights organisations.

‘We belong to this land’

For their part, various Palestinian officials swiftly condemned the statement. “The idea of uprooting an entire population is not a solution but a violation of international law,” said Walid al-Awad, a senior official at the Palestinian Popular Party, in an interview with The New Arab.

“We belong to this land, and no power in the world can sever that connection,” Awad added, sharing a sentiment prevalent among those determined to reclaim their homes and lives.

“Proposals like Trump’s ignore the deep ties and sacrifices that bind people to their homes,” said Rashid Khalidi, a resident in Gaza. “These are not just houses. They are symbols of identity and resistance.”

Even amid the uncertainty of the ceasefire deal‘s future, the people’s resilience shines as a beacon of hope for a region long scarred by a devastating Israeli war. The displaced Palestinians’ return follows months of uncertainty and despair, with a glimmer of hope emerging after Hamas and Israel conducted a ceasefire deal under Qatari, Egyptian, and US sponsorship.

The routes to the north were filled with raw emotion. For displaced residents who endured life in temporary shelters during a bloody conflict, this journey was a return to stability, however fragile.

At 7:00 a.m., families poured onto Rashid Street, carrying their what belongings they had. Women cradled children and balanced luggage, while men dragged carts loaded with bags. For many, the absence of Israeli inspection procedures made the moment feel surreal—a fleeting taste of freedom as they breathed life back into areas they had been forcibly displaced by Israel’s genocidal war.

The return to the north was also made possible as part of the agreement brokered by Qatar and Egypt, in which Hamas released Israeli captive Arbel Yehuda and two others on Friday, with three more Israelis set to be released on Saturday. In exchange, Israel allowed Palestinian residents to return to northern Gaza.

Despite the agreement, the return occurred at a deeply sensitive political and humanitarian moment; after months in overcrowded shelters in southern Gaza left Palestinian residents physically and emotionally exhausted. 

For many, the promise of returning home symbolised a fragile hope for normalcy amid ongoing negotiations for the next phases of the ceasefire.

“Finally, I am returning to my house,” Nidal Abu Odeh, a resident of Beit Hanoun, told The New Arab. 

“I feared I would die in an airstrike without seeing my hometown again,” he added, his voice trembling. Though he knew his home was reduced to rubble, he is still optimistically steadfast. “I want to live next to the ruins until they rebuild it,” he remarked.

Fatheia Abd Rabbo, from Shujaiya, shared a similar resolve. Despite the 10-kilometre walk to her destroyed home, she remarked to TNA, “My longing for my home outweighs any fatigue.” 

Overwhelming joy

Hamas deployed its security forces to coordinate and ensure a smooth process for the return of those displaced. Residents received a warm welcome as they navigated the journey north. 

Nevertheless, the Israeli army issued warnings against using the routes for smuggling weapons, enforcing strict vehicle inspections and deploying X-ray technology.

The main routes, including the Netzarim axis, were filled to the brim with traffic—vehicles, trucks, and carts lined the roads, carrying families and their meagre belongings. 

Palestinian security sources reported that the Israeli army evacuated the western part of the axis to facilitate the return, officially scheduled for 9:00 a.m.

The government media office in Gaza emphasised that the return was a key part of the agreement between the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli occupation. It stressed the importance of safely ensuring displaced citizens could return home safely.

The coastal road in Gaza City was filled with overwhelming joy as hundreds of residents waited anxiously for loved ones to return from the south. Mixed emotions swirled—joy, relief, and fear for the future.

While waiting for her family, Marwa Omar said to TNA, “We have waited so many months for this day. Nothing can describe how we feel now.” 

“We hope the truce holds, peace prevails, and life returns to what it was before October,” she added. 

For many, the return is also a bittersweet homecoming. Tawfiq Radwan, 30, arrived at his destroyed childhood home in Sheikh Radwan in Gaza City. Sitting amidst the rubble, he said, “I never thought I would return to my childhood neighbourhood.” 

“The dream has come true; we are home again. I will rebuild my house, and step by step, we’ll return to the life the [Israeli] occupation stole from us,” he added.