Gaza City: Thousands of displaced Palestinians began their journey back to Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip on Monday, utilizing Rashid Coastal Street as a pathway through the central Gaza Strip. The return marks a significant movement of people who have been uprooted from their homes due to ongoing conflict.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, starting at 9:00 a.m., displaced individuals were allowed to travel by vehicle to the northern Gaza Strip, following inspections conducted on Salah al-Din Street. Many have spent recent nights exposed to harsh conditions on Rashid and Salah al-Din Streets, compelled to wait for permission from occupation forces to return to their homes after being forced to evacuate to the south.
The majority of these displaced individuals are making the journey back on foot, covering a minimum distance of 7 kilometers via Rashid Street. This street spans from the northern to the southern part of the Gaza Strip and has been the scene of numerous tragic events during the 470-day conflict.
Between October 7, 2023, and January 19, 2025, Israeli occupation forces engaged in aggressive actions in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths and injuries of over 158,000 individuals, predominantly women and children. This period of aggression has also left over 14,000 people missing.
The conflict has led to the displacement of over 85% of Gaza's population, with more than 1.93 million people forced from their homes due to destruction. An estimated 100,000 individuals have exited the Strip since the conflict began. Presently, about 1.6 million residents of the Strip live in shelters and tents, which lack basic necessities for human survival, amidst widespread destruction of infrastructure and personal property.
