Gaza – On Monday, thousands of displaced Palestinians began returning to Gaza City and the northern parts of the Gaza Strip via Al-Rashid Coastal Road. This marks a significant step for those forced to flee their homes during months of relentless aggression by the Israeli occupation forces.
Displaced Palestinians were allowed to travel by vehicle to the north after their vehicles were inspected along Salah Al-Din Road. However, many spent the past two nights outdoors along Al-Rashid and Salah Al-Din roads, braving freezing temperatures while awaiting permission from the occupying forces to return to their homes.
For most of the displaced, the journey back involves walking at least 7 kilometers along Al-Rashid Road, a coastal stretch that runs from the northern to the southern Gaza Strip. This road witnessed countless massacres over the 470-day-long assault, as occupation forces targeted civilians fleeing from northern to southern Gaza.
Catastrophic Impact of the Israeli Aggression
Between October 7, 2023, and January 19, 2025, the Israeli occupation launched a brutal military campaign against Gaza. This aggression claimed the lives of over 158,000 Palestinians, most of whom were children and women, and left more than 14,000 people missing.
The war displaced more than 85% of Gaza’s population—approximately 1.93 million out of the 2.2 million residents—forcing them to abandon their destroyed homes. Additionally, around 100,000 residents fled the Strip altogether since the beginning of the assault.
Currently, an estimated 1.6 million Gazans live in overcrowded shelters and makeshift tents, enduring dire conditions without basic necessities. The devastation has left Gaza’s infrastructure and properties in ruins, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
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Author: nor-eleslam
