“I will crawl if I have to do so,” the Palestinians who are excited to return to northern Gaza News of the Israeli -Palestinian conflict

Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Palestine – In the Al -Nuwairi hill, the closest point in Nuseirat for the Rashid Al -Sahili Road, she sits green on the ground with her family for the second day in a row, pending her to return to her home, or the rest of it. North Gaza.

Anaf, a mother of four children, was one of the thousands of displaced people in southern Gaza who immediately went to the Rashid area on Sunday after the release of four Israeli prisoners as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas the previous day.

The plan was to go to the Al -Rashid area and try to pass through the Israeli Nettarim checkpoint, and then to northern Gaza.

“I have been here since the early morning with my husband and my children,” she said to Al -Jazeera, distributing sandwiches to her children sitting on the ground.

She added: “Last night I prepared the belongings we can carry and left many things to facilitate walking.” “We could not even wait for a minute. We want to return to our land in the north immediately.”

the The ceasefire agreementThis agreement, which began to be implemented on January 19, was supposed to allow the first exchange of Israeli prisoners and Palestinian prisoners, to return the Palestinian displaced from southern Gaza to the north after the end of the war. A second prisoner exchange process for prisonersWhich took place on Saturday.

However, Israel, by force, prevented the Palestinian civilians from approaching Natsarim on Sunday, and fired at the crowd on at least three separate occasions, according to medical sources, and killed at least two Palestinians, according to Al -Awda Hospital, where the victims were received. At least nine people were injured, including a child.

Israel insists that the other prisoner Erbil Jewel should be released on Saturday before allowing the Palestinians to return to their homes in the north.

The Palestinian delay has left frustrated here. Ahmed Abu Dan smokes the remains of his cigarette while sitting next to his family.

“We have passed a lot during this war,” said 55 -year -old. “When they told us that we could return to the north, we felt overwhelmed, but Israel deliberately spoils our happiness by making us wait.”

Ahmed is not interested in the technical aspects of delay. His only concern is to return to his home in the Shujaiya neighborhood of Gaza City, away from the memories of 15 months of war and displacement.

“What is another or two days?” He mocked laughter. “We will stay here whatever happens, until they allow us to pass.”

Ahmed and his family prepared their tent as soon as the ceasefire started, and collected their basic belongings in preparation for the difficult return trip north.

Ahmed said that the family had been displaced 11 times since the war began, explaining that his health and mental condition had deteriorated after he lived for several months in the tents. The experience means that if he returns to the north, he pledges not to leave again – even if the ceasefire fails and the war erupted again.

Ahmed said: “We were forced to flee to areas supposed to be safe, so that we can be targeted there too.” “I cannot wait for the dust of Gaza City again.

“I miss my relatives and my home in Shuja’ia, even if it is partially destroyed. I miss my life and everything there.”

What is left?

While the entire Gaza Strip is a coastal pocket Only 41 km (25 miles)The North was bombed by Israel during its war, and the North was particularly destroyed.

Indeed, the right -wing settlement movement in Israel pushed towards the permanent decision Ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians And the establishment of illegal settlements in the region, which was home to the largest urban area in the Gaza Strip, which is Gaza City.

Large areas of northern Gaza are now unintended, but half heard that her house, despite his severe damage, is still standing.

She said with a broad smile: “According to my neighbors, only one room and one bathroom remain in my house, but for me, this is a paradise compared to life in displacement.”

“I miss my house a lot,” she added. “We lived there for only nine months before the war began, and I had not even finished furnishing it.”

Contrary to half, Nada Awadallah does not have any information about the condition of her house in the Tel Al -Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City. What you know is that the area surrounding its house was an Israeli military area closed, and it was difficult to reach.

But this deficiency in information is not an affirmation that her house has been destroyed. For Londi, this is sufficient to try to return.

“I cannot believe that the day of return has finally come,” said 65 -year -old and tears pouring down from her eyes. “I will bear exhaustion. I have been here since last night, sleep on the street, and I am ready to stay until we are allowed to pass.”

Nada had escaped with her five -children family and many grandchildren – from Tel Al -Hawa early in the war, and eventually settled in a tent in the southern Gaza. All family members have decided to stay in their place today.

“There was a debate between us about waiting for a longer period before returning, but I couldn’t wait more,” Nada said. “I told them that I would crawl if I had to do so. What matters is to return and check my house.”

Return to the rubble

Mahmoud Mohsen, 57, who is the father of seven children, visited his daughter’s grave in the Cemetery of Deir Al -Balah in central Gaza before heading towards Natsarim.

Mahmoud’s daughter was killed with her husband and her three children in the bombing of Nuseirat in November 2023.

Originally from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, Mahmoud fled to Rafah at the beginning of the war. After multiple displays, he eventually settled in Deir Al -Balah.

“All I want now is to return to the rubble of my home.” Nothing else matters, “Mahmoud said, staring at the checkpoint.” I will stay here until I am allowed to pass. “

“Just reaching this region brought me back to life. Mahmoud said:” I miss the air of Gaza. “Our journey during the war was hardship after hardship. Stop this hell. “