Following the announcement of the ceasefire in the Middle East, Palestinians returned to Gaza City on Monday, January 28, to find their homes and properties decimated by the Israeli Forces.
After being displaced from their homes for nearly 16 months, Palestinians returned to the mass destruction in Gaza City done by the Israeli Forces. Many neighborhoods were flattened by Israel’s catastrophic airstrikes on the Palestinians and their homes. “Even if our home is flattened, we’re so happy to return to our city, to our homes, unharmed. Thank God,” said Om Wael, a displaced senior from Gaza. Regardless of the crippling conditions, the Palestinians remain joyful and relieved a ceasefire deal has been reached.
As the Palestinians began their journey, many were walking for more than 12 hours while carrying whatever they could bear such as blankets, clothing, and their tired children. Due to the immense bombing by the Israeli forces, many buildings and homes were destroyed, leaving the Gazans’ home in ruins. This made the journey to North Gaza much more difficult, especially when traveling at night when visibility was low. The uneven road, covered in rubble, caused many travelers to fall and lose their balance.
Many had to journey from the city of Rafah to Gaza, but the devastation prolonged the journey, forcing people to walk for up to 12 hours. After speaking with my Aunt in Gaza, we realized the conditions were far worse than we initially thought. “We walked from 11:00 in the morning to 3:00 at night; 16 hours,” my Aunt said. After carrying heavy belongings and stumbling over the rubble, my Aunt and her family arrived at their home in Gaza, only to find it completely destroyed and infested with insects. Despite the heartbreaking extent of the destruction, they are still optimistic that their homes will be restored.
The resilience and fortitude of the Palestinians in Gaza is truly breathtaking. Despite losing limbs, suffering from malnutrition, and grieving their loved ones, they still remain steadfast in their faith. Even in the face of unbearable suffering, the Palestinians remain hopeful that their city will rise again from the damage of the airstrikes, determined to rebuild not only their homes, but also their lives and futures.
