Gaza City —(Map)
On Monday, thousands of Palestinians began to return to their homes in north Gaza. It was their first chance to return to the area in over a year, thanks to a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Most Palestinians seemed excited to return, even though most buildings in the area have been destroyed.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began last Sunday, bringing a temporary end to the fighting. The ceasefire is an important step toward peace for the two sides, which have been at war for 15 months.
The fighting began after Hamas brutally attacked Israel on October 7, 2022, killing about 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. Israel sent soldiers into Gaza and has continued to pound the area with bombs since the war began.
(Source: Screenshot, © UNICEF 2025.)
Close to 70% of Gaza’s buildings have been destroyed, and around 47,000 people in Gaza have been killed, many of them civilians.
As part of the ceasefire, Hamas is releasing Israeli hostages, and Israel is releasing Palestinian prisoners. Importantly, Israel is also supposed to remove its soldiers from areas where people live in Gaza.
That process was supposed to begin on Saturday. But it was delayed because Israel and Hamas disagreed over the order in which the hostages should be released.
But early Monday morning, the two sides reached an agreement. Israel gave the order for its soldiers to stop blocking roads leading to northern Gaza. Some Palestinians, eager to go home, had been waiting for days.
😕
This image has not been loaded because of your cookie choices. To view the content, you can accept 'Non-necessary' cookies.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians headed north, carrying the few things they owned (above). People, young and old, made the trip on foot. Others were pushed in wheelchairs, despite the difficult conditions on the sandy road.
Drone images showed a stream of tens of thousands of Palestinians walking north, carrying the few things they owned. People, young and old, made the trip on foot. Others were pushed in wheelchairs, despite the difficult conditions on the sandy road.
The Palestinians seemed happy to return. They smiled and sang as they walked. “Thank God, we’re returning to our homes,” said one woman.
Much of northern Gaza has been destroyed, and many Palestinians will find their homes knocked down. Even so, going back felt like a victory to some. “We had thought we wouldn’t return,” said one man.
On a nearby road, others made the trip by car or truck. The thick traffic on the crowded road moved slowly. Israeli soldiers stopped and searched vehicles for weapons, before waving them on.
😕
This image has not been loaded because of your cookie choices. To view the content, you can accept 'Non-necessary' cookies.
On a nearby road, others made the trip by car or truck. The thick traffic on the crowded road moved slowly (above). Israeli soldiers stopped and searched vehicles for weapons, before waving them on.
Yasmin Abu Amshah has three children. She walked almost four miles to reach her old home in Gaza City. Her home had been damaged, but she could still live in it. “It was a long trip,” she said, “But a happy one.”
Despite the joy, the serious results of the war are still very clear. For many returning Palestinians, home will never be the same, since they have lost family members – and sometimes entire families.
And for Israel, not all of the hostages will be coming home. Hamas was expected to return 33 hostages in the first stage of the ceasefire. But it has informed Israel that 8 of those hostages have already died.
Still, it’s a good sign that the ceasefire is holding. It will require patience and effort from both sides to keep the peace.
😕
This map has not been loaded because of your cookie choices. To view the content, you can accept 'Non-necessary' cookies.