In a stark contrast to the initial hope of returning to their homes, Palestinian families displaced during the war are now facing a grim reality. After crossing into north Gaza under the ceasefire with Israel, many found themselves amid the ruins of uninhabitable homes and dire shortages of basic supplies. The lack of running water forces them to queue for hours to fill plastic containers for drinking or cleaning, while most homes are now piles of rubble due to Israeli airstrikes.
Residential districts have been left in pieces, with no electricity or fuel for standby generators, leaving families relying on makeshift tents for shelter. At night, entire neighborhoods are dark as Gaza’s historic refugee camps face the brunt of the cold winter without power or heating.
Hisham El-Err, a local, described the dire conditions: “Life here is very, very hard. There is nothing—no life, no water, no food, no drink.” Many families have lost loved ones to the war and are struggling to cope with the psychological impact as well as the physical challenges.
Hamas has expressed discontent over slow humanitarian aid delivery, while international efforts to support the displaced continue under intense pressure from both sides. The truce, signed on January 19, promises freedom of movement but has seen little progress in releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and exchanging 250 Israeli hostages, including five Thai citizens.
The ongoing conflict has destroyed nearly 47,000 Palestinians in Gaza alone, with thousands missing or feared dead. As families return to the ruins they once called home, the emotional toll is immense, while the physical struggles intensify.
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*Written by Nidal Al-Mughrabi; additional reporting by Maayan Lubell and Dawoud Abu Alkas.*
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/joy-turns-despair-gaza-returnees-struggle-settle-enclaves-north-2025-01-29