A vast and agitated mob headed north along Gaza’s seaside road even before the sun signaled a cold dawn. They were both young and old. Many carried luggage and big white plastic bags, while others were little children. Some wore flip-flops, some walked barefoot, and some hopped slowly on crutches. One group of young men walked and sang with their arms clasped.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians were seen moving toward a crossing on the Netzarim Corridor, which divides the enclave, and into the heavily bombed north as morning broke in Gaza on Monday, according to film and images taken by the NBC News crew. The Israeli military views the route, which bears the name of a former Israeli settlement, as essential to preventing militants from crossing Gaza.
After 15 months of Israeli bombardment, many people cried as they clung to their loved ones and their possessions throughout the trek home.
Others sought refuge in the central and southern regions of the enclave and then proceeded along the highway in vehicles, trucks, and rickshaws, bringing beds and tents.
Residents of northern Gaza were supposed to return over the weekend in accordance with the terms of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. However, Israel blocked the borders after claiming that Hamas had broken the agreement by refusing to free 29-year-old Israeli civilian captive Arbel Yehud.
The delay followed President Donald Trump’s announcement on Saturday that Palestinians should evacuate the Gaza Strip in order to clear out the enclave, adding that he had requested they be taken in by the King of Jordan.
Following the announcement by Qatari mediators that Hamas had consented to turn over Yehud and two other hostages, Israel announced plans to reopen the first crossing in Central Gaza at 7 a.m. local time (midnight ET) on Sunday.
The prospect of seeing family again gave many displaced residents a fresh feeling of joy and hope. About 90% of the people living in the enclave were forced to leave their houses due to the violence, and many of them spent months in filthy tent camps.
As Israeli troops watched from the sidelines, Palestinians who had been waiting at the barricades for two days erupted in cheers.
Sanaa Al-Qassab, 45, walked over the sandy strip with heavy suitcases slung over her shoulder and held hands with her little daughter, telling NBC News that she hadn’t anticipated returning to her home in northern Gaza.
“We waited here in the cold and hunger for three days,” she remarked. They assured us that we would come back at this time and then at a later date.
“I am thrilled that we will get to meet our families,” she continued.
About 650,000 Palestinians in central and southern Gaza would be able to return to their homes in the northern part of the enclave thanks to the arrangement mediated by Qatar and Egypt.
I want to return to see my family because I haven’t seen them in a year and a half. Mohammed Adas, 19, told Reuters, “I’ve been waiting for three days to visit my parents.”
Using a messaging app, Ghada, a mother of five, told Reuters that she had not slept in preparation for going home.
She added, “At least we are going back home, so I can say that the war is over and I hope it stays calm.” “I have everything packed and ready to go with the first light of day,” she remarked.
Over 47,000 people have been killed by Israeli bombing, according to local health officials. The conflict started on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out a terrorist attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage, according to Israeli officials.
Since the aceasefire deal entered into force on January 15, the combat has ceased.