Return to Northern Gaza: Steadfastness that Defeated the Israeli Aggression

The Israeli aggression on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, and lasted for over 470 days, caused widespread human and material devastation across the Strip’s infrastructure.

The scale of destruction resulting from this assault is the largest in the history of the conflict with the Israeli enemy, amounting to 17 times the total debris of all previous wars with the enemy since 2008.

According to international organizations, the volume of debris in 2024 alone has reached approximately 51 million tons, underscoring the immense destruction inflicted on all aspects of life in Gaza, including homes, hospitals, and schools. The process of clearing the rubble is expected to take more than 21 years—an indicator of the catastrophic scale of the aggression and the massive reconstruction challenges facing the Palestinian people.

These statistics highlight the severe suffering of civilians living under these tragic conditions and open discussions about the devastating weaponry and policies employed by the enemy, backed by Western support, and their direct impact on civilian lives. Estimates suggest that about 80 percent of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged, with most destruction concentrated in the north. Sam Rose, an official from UNRWA, stated that the number of returning residents “is likely to double,” but they will be met with scenes of utter devastation.

Yet, despite the despair and pain, hope remains a guiding light for Gazans returning to their homes. They are determined to rebuild their lives, no matter the obstacles that stand in their way.

 

 

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The Joy and Pain of Return

As the sounds of shelling subsided, stark images began to emerge, depicting the painful reality of Gaza’s people returning to their shattered homes. Ali Yahya, one such Palestinian, returned to his residence in Al-Zahraa City after more than a year of displacement, determined to reclaim a semblance of normal life under the ruins of his home, which was destroyed in October 2023.

Ali’s family, like countless others, lost their home to the relentless bombing, forcing them to move from one place to another in search of safety. “Even though grief consumes me, I feel the joy of return,” Ali said, describing the bittersweet feeling of coming back. He expressed a sense of triumph, walking alongside thousands of other Palestinians carrying their hopes and dreams in simple bags.

Concerned about his neighbors, Ali asked, “What happened to them? Were they displaced, killed, or imprisoned? Did all my neighbors return with me today?” These unanswered questions reflect a mix of hope and fear—longing to reunite with loved ones while dreading the worst.

Before the war, Ali worked as a clothes designer but was forced to abandon everything. “I left northern Gaza, my home, my work—everything is gone. The most important thing now is finding out what happened to the people I love. I still dream that, on my journey back, I will see them again and relive the memories that affirm our return and rebuilding.”

During his escape, Ali carried only two bags containing a few essential items: an iPad, important documents, a hooded sweatshirt, a water bottle, and a first-aid kit. These simple belongings represented fragments of his past life, a time before fear and destruction became his daily reality. His return, and that of so many others, stands as a powerful testament to Palestinian resilience—their unwavering connection to their land, their determination to rebuild, and their refusal to surrender to despair.

 

 

Hoping for a future of steadfast resistance until complete freedom is achieved, 31-year-old Adham al-Bartawi returned to his home in northern Gaza after more than a year of displacement. He had hoped to find some remnants of his past life, but what he saw left him in shock. Standing amidst the ruins of his home in Al-Zahraa, he said, “Half of our house is completely gone.” Bulldozers had wiped out everything—his living room, kitchen, and balconies. Only two rooms and a bathroom remained, and he feared that even what was left might be looted.

Adham is one of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have begun returning to northern Gaza following the implementation of the agreement and the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy.

Emad Ali al-Zein, another returnee, stood devastated before the wreckage of his home in Jabalia. “It is impossible to describe the destruction around me,” said the 48-year-old as he cleared space to set up a tent. “I was happy on my way back, but seeing this catastrophic scene filled me with sorrow.”

Thousands of martyrs remain buried under the rubble, while unexploded ordnance continues to pose a deadly threat.

 

 

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Life Returns to Northern Gaza—Despite Everything

Slowly but surely, life is returning to northern Gaza. On Monday morning, thousands of Gazans gathered at Al-Rashid Street, rejoicing at the announcement by a Ministry of Interior official in Gaza that the return process had officially begun and that the Israeli enemy had started its withdrawal from the “Netzarim” axis.

The journey from southern Gaza to the north was slow and exhausting, but the returnees refused to lose hope. One displaced person smiled and said, “At least we’re going back home. Now I can finally say the war is over—I just hope the calm lasts.”

 

 

With every step on the shattered streets of their cities, returnees reunited with friends and exchanged hugs amid the ruins. Videos captured the scenes of people walking through mountains of rubble, while street vendors stood beside the road, selling essentials like diapers and food.

As time passed, more Gazans made their way back, carrying a mix of emotions on their journey home. One returnee said, “There are no words to describe this feeling. I return with my head held high. We endured humiliation and suffering, but in the end, we will rebuild what was lost.”

Each returnee has a story. Each heart beats with the dream of reviving life in their beloved land. Yet, the road ahead is filled with hardship. In the midst of the chaos, a man stood beside his car, brewing coffee, as drone footage revealed the staggering extent of destruction in the city. One Palestinian, overwhelmed with emotion, summed it up: “Grief consumes me.” The sheer devastation rendered words insufficient.

 

 

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The Unyielding Spirit of Return

Estimates indicate that more than 200,000 people have already returned to the north on foot after spending months in displacement camps in the south. Describing their emotions upon arrival, one returnee said, “This moment is a blessing. Our happiness is beyond words.” However, many acknowledged that the journey had been “extremely difficult.” Still, they added, “We are happy because we will finally see our families and loved ones again.”

 

On social media, videos captured the mix of sorrow and relief as Palestinians returned home. Along Al-Rashid Street, a sign reading “Welcome to Gaza” greeted the thousands of returnees—but all around them was a landscape of destruction. The buildings lay in ruins, and the once beautiful coastal park was reduced to a mere memory.

The return to northern Gaza demonstrates the depth of the tragedy, where the scars of Israeli aggression remain painfully evident. Entire neighborhoods have been bulldozed, infrastructure—water, electricity, roads—obliterated. Schools, hospitals, parks, and public facilities no longer exist. In their place, people sift through the rubble, salvaging clothing to wash and wear, while makeshift tents are assembled from whatever furniture remains.

 

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A Defiant Return—Until Victory

In northern Gaza, where darkness and devastation reign, a relentless spirit of resistance persists, with Trust in Allah. The ruins stand as a testament to the brutal onslaught, but amid the wreckage, a stubborn hope refuses to fade.

The returnees walk a difficult road—one that only the bravest of the Palestinian people dare to take. Despite the relentless attempts to erase them, they remain unshaken, their resilience a seed of hope that grows stronger with each battle on the path to reclaiming all occupied land.

To the Palestinians, freedom is not just a word—it is the dawn they eagerly await. As they march forward, the question lingers: “Is the morning near?” The answer comes in waves of determined returnees, flooding north like an unstoppable tide.

This is the true history of Palestinian resistance—a struggle marked by pain and perseverance, yet a living testament to their unwavering will. Their fight, filled with suffering and tears, is a resounding message to the world: Palestinian resilience is a force that cannot be broken. And as hardships increase, so too does their certainty—victory is near.

 

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