A sea of people streamed through both lanes of al-Rashid Street, the coastal road in the western Gaza Strip designated for the return north as part of the ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hamas. As thousands upon thousands of people marched on foot in the west, to the east, vehicles were lined up bumper to bumper and allowed to cross after inspection on Salah al-Din Street.
These were the scenes in Gaza on Monday, as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who had been displaced in the southern Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war began to return home.
Families who spoke to Mondoweiss expressed their joy and feelings of hope upon crossing into northern Gaza, where what remained of their homes was waiting for them. The residents of Gaza City waited for their displaced relatives coming from the south, raising Palestinian flags and victory signs and welcoming the returnees. ….more