‘I’d crawl if I had to’: Palestinians eager to return to northern Gaza | Israel-Palestine Conflict News

Nuseyrat Refugee Camp, Gaza Strip, Palestine – Al-Nuwairi Hill, the closest point of Nuseirat to the Al-Rashid coastal road, ANSAF Khadra, for the second day in a row, is waiting to return home with his family, or to be allowed to remain, in northern Gaza.

Ansaf, a mother of four, visited al-Rashid on Sunday after the release of four Israeli prisoners as part of the Israel-HOMAS ceasefire.

The plan started in al-Rashi and tried to get Israel from the Netzarim crossing, then north to Gaza.

“I woke up early in the morning with my husband and children,” she said.

“Last night I prepared anything we could walk in and left a lot to make walking easier,” he said. “We couldn’t wait a minute. We want to immediately return to our lands in the north.”

This ceasefire agreementOn January 19, with the first exchange of Israeli prisoners and Palestinian prisoners, the Palestinians were supposed to be allowed to return from the north after the south. Second exchange of prisoners for prisonersWhat happened on Saturday.

However, Israel opened fire on Palestinian citizens approaching Netzarim on Sunday in at least three separate incidents, killing at least two Palestinians, according to medical sources, where the refugees were taken and at least two Palestinians. At least nine people, including a child, were injured.

Israel insisted on the release of another female captive, Arbel Yehud, to prevent her from returning to her home in the north on Saturday.

The delay left the Palestinians here. Ahmad Abu Dan puffed the remains of his cigarette while sitting with his family.

“We’ve been through a lot during this war,” the 55-year-old said. “We were happy when they said we could go back to the north, but Israel is deliberately spoiling our happiness by waiting for us.”

Ahmed is not interested in the technical aspects of the delay. His only concern is returning home to the Shujayea neighborhood of Gaza City, far from the memories of 15 months of war and displacement.

“What’s another day or two?” He passed through a laugh. “We’re staying here no matter what until we’re allowed.”

As soon as the ceasefire started, Ahmad and his family packed their tents and are preparing to bring their essentials back from the north.

Since the start of the war, the family has been displaced 11 times, Ahmed said, explaining that his health and mental state have deteriorated after so many months of living in tents. Experience means that if he brings it back to the north, even if the truce fails, it won’t secede again and war won’t start.

“We were forced to flee to supposedly safe areas, only to be targeted there as well,” he said. “I can’t wait to kiss the soil of Gaza City again.

“Even if it’s partially destroyed, I miss my relatives and my home in my house. I miss my neighborhood and everything there. “

What’s left?

The entire Gaza Strip, the coastal enclave Only 41 kilometers (25 miles) longwas bombed by Israel during the war, especially in the north was destroyed.

Israel’s far-reaching move has pushed even for permanent Ethnic cleansing of Palestinians Building illegal settlements in the region, home to the largest pre-war urban area, Gaza City.

The vast swathes of northern Gaza now appear to be uninhabited, but ANSAF has heard that a house is still standing when it was badly damaged.

“According to my neighbors, only one room in my house and our bathroom remain intact, but to me, it’s heaven compared to a life in heaven,” he said.

“I miss home so much,” she said. “We lived there for nine months before the war started and I hadn’t even finished the furniture.”

Unlike ANSAF, Nada Awadallah has no information about the condition of her home in the Tal-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City. As far as he knew, the area around his house was a closed Israeli military zone and difficult to enter.

However, the absence of this information is not a confirmation that his house was destroyed. And for NADA, that’s enough to try and come back.

“I can’t believe it’s finally homecoming day,” said the 65-year-old, with tears in his eyes. “I’ll endure exhaustion. I’ve been here since last night, when I slept on the street, and I’m ready to stay until I’m allowed.”

Nadeh had fled with her family – five children and several grandchildren – in a tent in a tent in the southern Gaza city of al-Mawasi. And all of these family members have decided to stay where they are for the time being.

“There was an argument between us about waiting longer before going back, but I couldn’t wait any longer,” Nada said. “I said we’d crawl if we had to. What’s important is that I go back and check at my house.”

It goes back to demolition

Mahmoud Mohsen, a 57-year-old father of seven, visited his daughter’s grave in Gaza’s Dayr El Balah cemetery before heading to Netzarim.

Mahmoud’s daughter was killed in a bombing in Nuseirat in November 2023, along with her husband and three children.

Originally from Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, Mahmud fled south to Rafah at the start of the war. After many displacements, he eventually settled in Deir el-Balah.

“All I want now is to go back to the ruins of my house. Nothing else is important,” Mahmoud said as they looked towards the checkpoint. “I’ll stay here until I’m allowed.”

“Getting to this region brought me back to life. I miss the air of Gaza,” said Mahmoud. “Our journey during the war was one of hardship after hardship. Enough of this hell.”