IRIA News

4 minute read

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have begun returning to northern Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The displaced Palestinians carrying their belongings in sacks and plastic bags started their trek back northward on January 27, 2025, via the Israeli-designated Netzarim Corridor.

The returnees walked along Al Rashid Street, which opened for pedestrian crossings at 7:00 a.m. local time, while vehicles were permitted along Salah Al Din Street two hours later. These corridors were supposed to open on the weekend; however, the opening was delayed as Hamas failed to release an Israeli captive, Arbel Yehud, during a prisoner exchange on Saturday.

Following international pressure and mediation by Qatar, Hamas agreed to release Yehud and two other captives, allowing the crossings to open.

Hard-won homecoming

Hamas hailed the return of displaced Palestinians as “a victory,” claiming it demonstrates the resilience of the Palestinian people against Israel’s military objectives. In a statement, Hamas asserted, “Palestinians returning to areas from which they were forcibly displaced prove the failure of the occupation to achieve the aggressive goals of displacing people and breaking their steadfast will.”

Similarly, Palestinian Islamic Jihad described the return as a “response to all those who dream of displacing our people.” These declarations reflect the ongoing struggle over the identity and fate of Gaza, a region that has endured relentless aerial bombardments and a ground invasion that displaced nearly 90% of its 2.3 million residents.

The scale of destruction is staggering. The United Nations has estimated that over 60% of Gaza’s structures have been damaged or destroyed, with some experts warning that rebuilding could take decades.

The human cost of war

The ceasefire follows a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Since October 7, 2023, at least 47,306 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry. These numbers include thousands of children and women. In contrast, Israel reported 1,139 fatalities from the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, during which more than 200 people were also taken hostage.

For Palestinian authorities, the death toll is likely much higher as bodies are still being recovered from the rubble of destroyed neighborhoods. The sheer scale of suffering and displacement is unprecedented, with many families forced to relocate multiple times during the conflict to avoid airstrikes.

Trump’s controversial proposal

As Palestinians return to their shattered homes, international attention has shifted to the broader question of Gaza’s future. U.S. President Donald Trump stirred controversy by suggesting that Egypt and Jordan should take in Palestinians displaced by the conflict. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump described Gaza as a “demolition site” and proposed relocating its population to neighboring countries, either temporarily or permanently.

“You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing,” Trump said, adding that such a move might allow Palestinians to “live in peace for a change.”

The proposal drew swift condemnation from Palestinian leaders, who view forced relocation as a continuation of the 1948 Nakba when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced during Israel’s establishment. The Arab League, Egypt, and Jordan also rejected the idea outright, with Egypt’s foreign ministry warning against any plan that would involve uprooting Palestinians from their homeland.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi reaffirmed his country’s position, saying, “The kingdom is firm and unwavering in its rejection of displacing Palestinians.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni echoed similar sentiments during a visit to Saudi Arabia, acknowledging the complexities of Gaza’s reconstruction but dismissing Trump’s proposal as lacking a “defined plan.”

A fragile path forward

The ceasefire has offered a sliver of hope for stability in the region, but significant challenges remain. Gaza’s decimated infrastructure, compounded by the immense loss of life, poses long-term obstacles to recovery. Moreover, the ceasefire’s durability is uncertain, given the deeply entrenched hostilities between Israel and Hamas.

As Palestinians return to their homes, or what remains of them, the international community faces mounting pressure to address the humanitarian crisis and lay the groundwork for a sustainable resolution. For now, the ceasefire offers a moment of respite, but the scars of war and the deep-seated political divides ensure that the road to peace will be long and arduous.