Thousands of displaced Palestinians began returning to Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip on Monday morning, traveling along Rashid Coastal Street in the central Gaza Strip.

Starting at 9:00 a.m., individuals were permitted to head north using vehicles, following inspection procedures conducted along Salah al-Din Street.

Over the past two nights, many displaced residents endured harsh conditions, sleeping in the open along Rashid and Salah al-Din Streets, as they waited for Israeli occupation forces to grant them passage back to their homes. Most of those returning are walking the 7-kilometer stretch of Rashid Street, despite the bitter cold and the ongoing challenges of displacement.

Rashid Coastal Street, which runs from the northern to the southern Gaza Strip, has borne witness to tragic events during the prolonged Israeli aggression. Over the past 470 days, the street has been the site of numerous massacres targeting civilians fleeing violence in the north.

The Israeli occupation forces' aggression on the Gaza Strip has resulted in the deaths and injuries of more than 158,000 people, including many children and women, and left over 14,000 missing. The aggression has led to the displacement of over 85% of Gaza's population, with more than 1.93 million citizens out of 2.2 million forced from their homes, and around 100,000 citizens leaving the Strip since the aggression began.

The aggression forced around 100,000 residents to leave the Strip entirely, while approximately 1.6 million people now live in shelters and makeshift tents lacking basic necessities. This dire situation persists amidst the destruction of vital infrastructure and citizens’ property.

The return of displaced individuals marks a small yet significant step toward reclaiming normalcy. However, the massive humanitarian crisis, coupled with unprecedented devastation, continues to overshadow life in Gaza. (ILKHA)