Displaced Palestinians Return to Gaza: A Victory Over Israeli Occupation
After 15 Months of Violence, Thousands of Palestinians Begin Their Journey Back Home Amid a Historic Ceasefire Agreement.
Watan-The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) stated on Monday that the return of displaced individuals to their homes and lands is “a victory for our people” and a declaration of the failure and defeat of the Israeli occupation and its displacement plans.
In a statement, Hamas added that the return of the displaced once again proves “the occupation’s failure to achieve its aggressive goals of displacing our people and breaking their steadfast will.”
Hamas also noted that the scenes filled with joy, love for the land, and determination to remain on it send a strong message to those betting on breaking the will of the Palestinian people and displacing them. It emphasized “the greatness and steadfastness of our people on their land.”
Meanwhile, Hamas leader Izzat al-Risheq wrote, “Congratulations to our people in Gaza on this blessed return. This is a great day, and the scene of the displaced returning to the north crushes all the dreams and illusions of the occupation about displacing our Palestinian people.”
The Islamic Jihad Movement also commented, stating, “In a legendary scene, hundreds of thousands of displaced people are returning to northern Gaza, which the Zionist aggression had turned into rubble.”
It added that the return of the displaced is a response to all those dreaming of displacing our people, following the resolution of the issue concerning Israeli captive Erbil Yehuda.
The Return Begins
On Monday morning, thousands of displaced Palestinians began returning to northern Gaza after being forcibly displaced from their homes due to the 15-month-long Israeli genocide.
The return began at 7:00 AM local time, with thousands of Palestinians walking along Al-Rashid Street under the ceasefire agreement. Return via Salah Al-Din Street was scheduled to start at 9:00 AM local time, limited to vehicles and cars rather than on foot.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Israeli army forces had begun withdrawing from the Netzarim axis, which separates southern and northern Gaza, an area established by the occupation at the start of its ground operation on October 27, 2023.
The ceasefire between the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli occupation took effect on January 19, 2025, as part of a first phase lasting 42 days, during which negotiations for a second and third phase will take place under Egyptian, Qatari, and U.S. mediation.
Between October 7, 2023, and January 19, 2025, Israel, with U.S. support, committed genocide in Gaza, resulting in over 158,000 Palestinian casualties, most of them children and women, and leaving more than 14,000 missing.
