Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians poured into Gaza’s most heavily destroyed area on Monday after Israel opened the north for the first time since the early days of the war with Hamas. This marked a dramatic reversal of the mass exodus that began 15 months ago.
As the fragile ceasefire entered its second week, Hamas reported that eight hostages, due to be freed in the first phase of the deal, had died. Despite the uncertainty, jubilant crowds of Palestinians—some holding babies or pushing wheelchairs—traveled on foot along a seaside road, carrying bedrolls and water. The crowd, watched over by Israeli tanks stationed nearby, was joined by armed and masked Hamas fighters flashing victory signs.
The United Nations estimated over 200,000 people moving north on Monday morning. Many of these displaced Palestinians had been living in squalid conditions in tent camps or makeshift shelters, eager to return to their homes, even if they had been damaged or destroyed.
Yasmin Abu Amshah, a mother of three, described her 6-kilometer journey to her Gaza City home, where she was reunited with her younger sister for the first time in over a year. “It was a long trip, but a happy one,” she said.
For many, the return was a symbol of resilience following Israel’s military campaign, which began in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel. It was also seen as a rejection of past proposals—such as former President Donald Trump’s suggestion—that Palestinians be resettled elsewhere in the region.