GAZA, January 26, 2025 (WAFA) – Thousands of displaced Palestinians are enduring severe hardships as they wait for the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the so-called Netzarim Corridor, which splits the Gaza Strip into two halves, to return to their homes in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip.
For days, they have been gathering on Rashid and Salah al-Din Streets in the heart of the Gaza Strip, after being forced out of their homes by Israeli forces during the ongoing genocidal war.
Many of these displaced individuals spent the night out in the open, braving the harsh cold along the coast of the Mediterranean, waiting to return to their cities and villages after being pushed south by the Israeli occupation.
The situation remains dire as Israel continues to block their return to the northern regions, violating terms agreed upon in a ceasefire deal that entered into effect last Sunday.
WAFA correspondent reported that tens of thousands of displaced people, many of them families with young children, are anxiously awaiting the chance to go back to their homes. For many, this return would require a grueling 7-kilometer walk through rubble and destruction.
Despite knowing that their homes may have been destroyed in the Israeli onslaught, some displaced individuals are holding onto hope, bringing tents with them that they will set up over the remains of their houses.
One displaced woman, who spoke with WAFA, described how she and her family had been forced to burn wooden pieces they had used to build makeshift shelters just to stay warm through the night. With no other means of heating, they rely on these small fires for survival as they wait in uncertainty.
Many of the displaced have transported what little they can carry—blankets, clothing, and personal belongings—on vehicles and carts, all in preparation for the moment when they are finally allowed to return home. Some are determined to rebuild their lives and homes, while others are still searching for lost family members beneath the rubble of what once were their neighborhoods.
One displaced man, Mohammad al-Kahlout, 46, shared his concern for the safety of his family as they wait to return to the northern Gaza Strip. “We want to go home, but we fear the Israeli occupation will target us again. There are no guarantees of safety on this journey.”
Another displaced man, Ismail al-Shanbari from Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, expressed his resolve to return despite the devastating losses he had endured.
“My home was destroyed at the beginning of the war,” he said. “We’re tired of this humiliation and displacement. We will return no matter the cost—even if we are killed. Whether it’s in the north or the south, we will return to our land, even if we have to set up tents on the rubble of our homes.”
A woman named Sara Baker, who is seven months pregnant, added, “I have no idea what happened to my home in Gaza, but I will go back—even if I have to walk the entire way.”
Since the beginning of the Israeli assault on Gaza in October 2023, the situation has grown increasingly dire. By January 2025, the aggression had resulted in the killing and injuries of more than 158,000 Palestinians, with most victims being women and children. More than 14,000 people remain missing, and over 1.93 million Palestinians—85% of Gaza’s population—have been displaced due to the destruction of their homes.
The scale of the devastation is unimaginable, with more than 80% of Gaza’s infrastructure left in ruins. Around 1.6 million displaced individuals are currently sheltering in overcrowded camps and tents, struggling to survive amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
M.N
