Watan-In a poignant scene highlighting the resilience of the Palestinian people, thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun returning to northern Gaza after more than 15 months of forced displacement due to the Israeli aggression. This significant event, which represents a victory for Palestinian willpower, has been met with anger inside Israel, where Netanyahu’s government has been accused of failing to achieve its objectives of displacing the population and bringing about a demographic shift in the region.
The return of the displaced is taking place through checkpoints established along the Netzarim corridor, where vehicles undergo thorough inspections using advanced scanning devices to detect any hidden weapons or explosives. Engineering units equipped with trained dogs are also used to inspect the cars, while passengers remain outside during the screening process. These procedures are carried out by contracted security teams in collaboration with a private American security company, while the operation itself is overseen by Egyptian security personnel wearing black vests labeled “The Egyptian-Qatari Committee.”
Those returning on foot, however, are not subjected to the same strict inspection measures, facilitating the mass return of people to their homes in northern Gaza. Hamas police forces have been deployed along the roads leading to the checkpoints to maintain order and ensure a smooth return for the displaced.
This unexpected development has provoked outrage in Israel, with some Israeli commentators describing it as a “catastrophic failure” of the military campaign, which lasted for over a year without achieving its main objective of displacing Gaza’s population. Hebrew media reports have spoken of shock within Israeli political and military circles, as the occupation’s strategy to alter the reality on the ground has failed.
The return of displaced Palestinians follows Qatari mediation, which led to an agreement between the occupation and Hamas, stipulating the release of three Israeli prisoners in exchange for facilitating the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza. This step represents yet another blow to the occupation’s attempts to impose forced displacement and reinforces Palestinian steadfastness despite the siege and destruction.
Notably, scenes emerging from Gaza show entire families returning to their homes despite the devastation inflicted upon them—a clear message that Palestinians will not abandon their land and that the occupation’s attempts to redraw the demographic map of the region have failed.
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