GAZA CITY: Thousands of Palestinians flooded the streets of Gaza on Friday, streaming toward neighborhoods reduced to rubble after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire that brought a fragile calm to the war-torn enclave for the first time in nearly two years.
Families carrying bags, children, and makeshift belongings walked for hours along dusty, debris-strewn roads to reach the ruins of their former homes. Many had lived in overcrowded shelters or tents in southern Gaza since the early months of the war.
“I don’t know what I will find,” said 35-year-old mother of four, Ahlam Abu Daqqa, as she approached her neighborhood in Gaza City for the first time since fleeing in 2023. “We left with nothing, and we’re coming back to nothing. But at least we’re coming home.”
The ceasefire, which took effect at noon local time (0900 GMT), halted Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire across the enclave. For hours afterward, a rare stillness settled over the city. Broken buildings cast long shadows as families searched through the ruins for clothing, furniture, and keepsakes buried under the rubble.
In some districts, residents hoisted white flags as they passed Israeli military positions still stationed on the edges of urban areas. Witnesses reported occasional gunfire in isolated spots but no major violations of the truce.
The war, which began in October 2023, displaced over 1.7 million Gazans. Entire neighborhoods in Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Jabalia were flattened during months of bombardment. According to local authorities, more than 60% of Gaza’s housing stock has been destroyed or severely damaged.
“This area was once full of life,” said shopkeeper Youssef Al-Najjar, standing beside the remains of his storefront. “Now it’s all dust and twisted metal. But people are coming back because they have nowhere else to go.”
Aid agencies say the ceasefire has opened the door to scale up deliveries of food, medicine, and fuel, though road access remains difficult and infrastructure is in ruins. Bulldozers were seen clearing main arteries as humanitarian convoys prepared to move north.
The return of displaced families underscores both the resilience and the desperation of Gaza’s population. While many expressed relief at the lull in fighting, few believed their suffering was over.
“We are not celebrating,” said Abu Daqqa. “We are surviving. This is only the beginning of a long road.”–Reuters
