Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians continued their return to Gaza City and other areas on Sunday, marking the third day of a pause in the devastating conflict. The return comes amidst widespread destruction and rubble left by the Israeli occupation forces over the past two years, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA. Returning residents are traversing long distances, with many walking at least 7 kilometers along Al-Rashid and Salah al-Din streets. A heartbreaking reality for many is that they have no homes to return to, their houses having been destroyed in the conflict.
Al-Rashid Street, a coastal road stretching from the north to the south of the Gaza Strip, became a site of immense tragedy during the conflict. Numerous massacres were reportedly committed by Israeli forces against civilians attempting to flee from the north to the south.
Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli occupation forces have been accused of carrying out acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip. These actions have resulted in the deaths of over 67,000 Palestinians and injuries to approximately 170,000 more, the majority of whom are women and children. A severe famine has also claimed the lives of 460 people, including 154 children.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has reported that 1.9 million people have been forcibly displaced in the Gaza Strip since the start of the conflict, with most residents displaced at least once. The United Nations has also announced that over 1.2 million people have been displaced as a result of the Israeli offensive on Gaza City since mid-March.
The scale of the devastation and displacement underscores the urgent need for sustained humanitarian aid, reconstruction efforts, and a lasting resolution to the conflict. The international community faces mounting pressure to ensure accountability for alleged war crimes and to facilitate a just and peaceful future for the people of Gaza.
Keywords: Gaza, Displacement, Conflict, Humanitarian Crisis, Israeli Occupation, UNRWA, Al-Rashid Street, Palestinian Refugees, Reconstruction, Ceasefire
Related: More palestine articles on DZWatch
Source: External reference
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Written by Noor Eleslam
