10 February 2025
This January, following more than 15 months of Israel’s military bombardment and destruction, Palestinians in Gaza finally found some respite from attacks with the start of a temporary ceasefire.
As restrictions on movement across Gaza were also lifted, it was finally possible for people to return to the north. More than half a million people who had been forcibly displaced from northern Gaza set off, determined to return to their homes and see what was left.
They travelled by cart, on foot, cycled and drove across rubble – some for days – only to find once-familiar places now unrecognisable. The levels of destruction they are witnessing are vast. More than 90% of housing in Gaza has been damaged or destroyed completely. Entire neighbourhoods have been flattened, and up to 70% of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in North Gaza have sustained damage.
Those returning to the north include Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)’s own staff, who have been trying to find what is left of their homes, reunite with loved ones, and mourn those they have lost.
Some of our staff shared their experiences of return and their hopes for the future:
“Alhamdulillah [praise to God], I’ve finally made it home and hugged my father after so much time apart. The journey was tough, and the walk was so long and exhausting, but the moment I saw my home and embraced my father, all the fatigue disappeared.”
“It’s really hard to put my feelings into words right now. My emotions are all over the place. I feel happy, deeply grateful, and I thank God that we survived all these massacres. But at the same time, I’m heartbroken that my uncle was killed just days before the ceasefire. He had been waiting for this day with such longing.
I’m also devastated by what has become of my beloved city, all the places that are now gone. Gaza was so precious to me and still is. I’m also shattered that my sister and her son were forced to leave Gaza, traveling to the other side of the world. I used to see them at least twice a day, and now they’re so far away.
The only thing I know for sure is that now, I will finally allow myself to cry for everything I’ve felt from the very first day of the war until today.”
“I returned to my apartment in Al-Rimal [in Gaza City]. Unfortunately, the level of destruction was overwhelming due to the intense bombardment around the building. The past five days have been exhausting, spent clearing debris, shattered glass, and tons of dust – especially challenging given that I live on the seventh floor. I also had to repair the water supply, reinstall barrels, reconnect the internet and power, and replace all the doors and windows that had been blown off. The effort continues just to restore the bare minimum of normal life.
Water is incredibly hard to find. Fuel is also almost completely unavailable, diesel is scarce. On top of that, the cost of raw materials like wood, nylon, and glass is very high.
Despite all these difficulties and struggles, returning home is worth every bit of it and even more.”
Photo of Basel’s neighbourhood in Al Rimal before Israel’s military assault in October 2023.
Photo of Basel’s neighbourhood in Al Rimal on his return in January 2025
“Our home, like all the others in the Jabalia refugee camp, is completely destroyed – nothing is liveable there. We expected this, that our homes would be gone, that nothing would be left. What comes next will be incredibly difficult. Returning to the north means returning to an enormous mass of rubble. How will we live among the rubble?
And so many questions remain unanswered: When will the debris be removed? How will water services reach the area? Are there any open spaces left where we can take shelter? No one has answers.
On top of that, many of our neighbours, friends, and acquaintances are missing. We will have to ask about them and know whether they were detained or just killed and left somewhere. There are victims we know are still buried under the rubble – we will have to recover and bury them with dignity.
I don’t like to be overly optimistic because I don’t want my disappointment to be unbearable, but I do hope the ceasefire will hold. The days ahead will bring immense challenges, but we can only hope they will be better than what we have already endured.”
“The journey to the north was difficult and exhausting beyond description. The road itself was uneven and damaged, and walking for such long distances was incredibly tiring, especially since everyone was carrying their belongings on their backs.
Some carried their mattresses, others their blankets, and some carried their children. Some were even carrying the elderly, while others dragged their elderly family members on remnants of tents, too exhausted from the long distance.
The scenes around me were deeply tragic – fatigue and exhaustion were visible on everyone’s faces. There were no services available along the way, neither water nor even restrooms. People had to take breaks and sit on the sand and rubble.
Life in the north is very primitive. Destruction is literally everywhere; beyond anything we could describe. We had seen pictures and videos before, but when we arrived and saw everything with our own eyes, the shock was even greater.
We have to search for water, but it’s not easy to find. The water infrastructure is destroyed in most areas. In reality, trying to live under these primitive conditions seems impossible, but we pray that things will improve.”
“The journey took more than 36 continuous hours by car. The road was difficult and overcrowded. I was with my elderly parents, my wife, and the children, and the trip completely drained us. It was long and gruelling; we had to spend the night in the car with no rest, no access to water, and no bathrooms.
Once we passed the checkpoint, I began to see north of the Gaza Valley, but the area beyond it was terrifying. Nothing resembled what it used to be. Vast areas were completely wiped out. The region was unrecognisable. The sights were incredibly hard to comprehend.
When I reached home, I was relieved to find it still standing. Yes, it’s partially destroyed and in need of lots of repairs, but given all the devastation in the city, it’s still liveable. However, water remains the biggest problem. There is no access to water in my area at all.”
MAP has been assessing the needs of people returning to northern Gaza and adapting our work to provide support. We have distributed thousands of gallons of drinking water and provided tent shelters to families, through our partner the Social Development Forum (SDF). We have also been moving some of our medical points to northern Gaza, equipping a medical point along the route people are travelling, and supporting local hospitals to resume their operations.
Please help us to support Palestinians in Gaza. You can donate here.
Photo: Thousands of Palestinians gather on Al-Rashid Street, west of the Nuseirat camp, at the last accessible point before the Netzarim checkpoint. (Credit: © Saher Alghorra/ZUMA Press Wire).
