Tens of thousands of Palestinians began arriving in northern Gaza, months after Israel ordered them out. The Israel-Hamas cease-fire was holding after faltering over the weekend.The New York Times reports that on Jan. 27, 2025 at 8:27 p.m. in Jerusalem, tens of thousands of Palestinians began their long journey back to their homes in northern Gaza. This comes after being displaced for nearly 16 months due to Israel’s military offensive. The cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, which had faltered over the weekend, remained in place as the Palestinians made their way back.
According to the latest updates, the Palestinians were seen walking for hours along the coastal road, carrying their few possessions on their heads, makeshift carts, and plastic bags. The column of people stretched for miles, with many still unsure of what awaited them upon their return. As they arrived in Gaza City, they were met with a devastated landscape of rubble and booby-trapped buildings.
The Israeli military had ordered roughly a million people to flee northern Gaza in October 2023, and then prevented their return. This left many Palestinians seeking shelter in tents in other parts of the territory. On Monday, some used bikes, wheelchairs, and trolleys to carry their belongings, while others improvised with plastic boxes turned into makeshift strollers for their children.
In a recent development, Hamas released four female Israeli soldiers who had been taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. In exchange, Israel handed over 200 Palestinian prisoners. However, on Sunday, their return was met with clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters, resulting in several injuries.
The situation in Gaza remains tense as displaced Palestinians continue to make their way back to their homes. The cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is holding for now, but the future remains uncertain for those returning to a destroyed and booby-trapped northern Gaza.
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