Titled: After the Storm: Gazans Face Emotional Returns Amid Devastation

Over 15 months after fleeing for safety, Palestinians return to northern Gaza to discover their razed neighborhoods, balancing elation at reunions with the sorrow of loss and uncertainty about the future.

For the first time in over a year, tens of thousands of Palestinians have made their way back to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip, an event marked by a mix of joy and heartbreak. Emotional family reunions unfolded throughout Gaza City as individuals embraced relatives who remained in the north during the lengthy conflict. However, these homecomings were also steeped in devastation: the relentless Israeli bombing campaign has left entire neighborhoods in ruins, transformed into unrecognizable heaps of rubble.

“We’re overwhelmed with happiness — we’re finally back in our neighborhood near friends and family after a year of living on the sidewalks and bare ground,” shared Rajab al-Sindawi, a 49-year-old secondhand clothing seller from Gaza City. He had previously traveled to Rafah, Deir al Balah, and Nuseirat in search of refuge. “But our home is gone, and it feels like our future has vanished too.”

The mass migration back to northern Gaza began after Israeli troops pulled out from Gaza’s coastal road on Monday, in compliance with a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, thereby allowing displaced individuals to return north. Hundreds of thousands had fled south when the military offensive against Hamas began. For the better part of 16 months, they had lived in temporary shelters, schools, and with friends or relatives.

For now, al-Sindawi, along with his wife and seven children, is staying at his parents’ house, which managed to survive the war but currently lacks essential services like water and electricity. He recounted his five-hour trek from Nuseirat to Gaza City, a journey filled with glimpses of destruction that left him contemplating the arduous rebuilding process ahead.

“The entire city is destroyed,” al-Sindawi remarked about Gaza City. “It’s going to take years before we recover our home.” The northern area was heavily targeted during the conflict, particularly following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and around 250 hostage takings. Israeli forces inflicted substantial damage on residential buildings, hospitals, and educational facilities, accusing Hamas militants of utilizing these structures for military purposes and shielding themselves among civilian populations.

As families rebuild their lives amid the aftermath, the question lingers: how long will it take to restore not only their homes but also their sense of security and normalcy?