Thousands of displaced Palestinians began returning to their homes in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip on Monday morning, after Israeli occupation forces allowed them to pass through the Netzarim crossing.
One million Palestinians return to their homes in northern Gaza pic.twitter.com/xffcKsyDrg
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) January 27, 2025
The displaced had spent the past two nights sleeping on the streets of Rashid and Salah al-Din, braving bitter cold temperatures, as they waited for permission to go back to their neighborhoods. The majority walked the 7-kilometer distance from the south to the north on foot.
لحظة وصول النازحين لمدينة غزة. pic.twitter.com/mzP61vpOmb
— Newpress | نيو برس (@NewpressPs) January 27, 2025
According to Hamas, the return was facilitated through mediation efforts that also secured an agreement for an additional prisoner exchange before the end of the week. This came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously cited security concerns to delay the return of the displaced.
“كفيتوا ووفيتوا”.. مسن يُحيي عناصر كتائب القسام الذين استقبلوا العائدين من جنوب قطاع غزة إلى شماله pic.twitter.com/OTw5TaJshF
— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) January 27, 2025
“The return of the displaced is a victory for the Palestinian people,” Hamas said in a statement. “It represents the failure and defeat of the occupation’s displacement plans.”
Islamic Jihad also hailed the “legendary scene” of “hundreds of thousands” of displaced Palestinians making their way back home, despite the widespread destruction caused by the 470-day Israeli assault on Gaza that ended in January 2025.
Aerial scenes of the return of thousands of displaced Palestinians on foot to the north of Gaza. pic.twitter.com/AbkPAKoKJ4
— Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) January 27, 2025
The devastating conflict resulted in over 158,000 Palestinian casualties, the majority of them women and children, and the displacement of more than 1.9 million Gazans – over 85% of the population. Many have been living in makeshift shelters and tents lacking basic necessities.
A Palestinian returnee embraces his mother upon his return to northern Gaza after 16 months of separation due to Israel’s genocidal war. pic.twitter.com/PZHnfm0hWE
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) January 27, 2025
“The steadfastness of our people will eliminate any Zionist dreams of stealing joy from our hearts,” Islamic Jihad declared. The National Gathering of Palestinian Tribes, Clans and Families said the return “gives us hope” that all displaced Palestinians will one day be able to go back to their homes and villages.
Source: Al-Manar and agencies
