Thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun heading north toward Gaza City following the implementation of a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, part of a U.S.-brokered deal.
With many roads damaged or impassable, most are walking and carrying their belongings as they move amid a vast humanitarian crisis.
“The ceasefire is working. These people feel free to make their way north,” one local observer said, referring to the change in conditions that had prevented travel during the height of the conflict.
Many of the individuals making this journey have been displaced multiple times during the war and are returning to assess their homes or reclaim what remains of their former lives.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel has begun a staged withdrawal of troops from urban areas, allowing civilians to return under safer conditions.
Despite relief among some residents, much of the territory they’re returning to is in ruins. Officials warn that the humanitarian challenges ahead are immense, with infrastructure destroyed, homes uninhabitable, and aid delivery still constrained.
