Joy fades as Gazans return to destroyed homes

As Palestinians took to the streets of Gaza to celebrate the ceasefire, the moments of joy faded for many as they returned to their homes to face destruction.

In Jabaliya, a town in northern Gaza that is home to the largest refugee camp in the Strip, photos and videos shared by residents showed entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble.

Returning to the al-Fallujah area of ​​Jabaliya, Dua al-Khalidi told BBC News: “I survived with my two daughters, we came out from under the debris of our house.

“The bodies of my husband, my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law are buried under the debris here since October 9.”

The 28-year-old mother of two added, “I want nothing more than their bodies so that I can bury them with dignity.”

The Jabaliya camp, once home to more than 250,000 Palestinians, became the site of the largest and most violent Israeli military operation during the war, killing nearly 4,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Also returning to Jabaliya was Hussein Awda, who documented his journey back from Gaza City.

The professional weightlifter, who represented Palestine at the international level, lost 10 members of his family at the beginning of the war.

He shared, “The best thing that happened today was that after 100 days, I could visit my family’s grave and pray for them.”

He also posted a video revealing the devastation caused to his three-storey house and the sports club he owned.

“Here I lost the people closest to my heart—my brother, my son, my source of livelihood. The war destroyed everything beautiful inside us.”

In the southern city of Khan Yunis, armed Hamas fighters walked through the streets encouraging the crowd and chanting slogans, according to Reuters news agency.

Hamas policemen in police uniforms were also deployed in some areas after months of remaining out of sight to avoid Israeli attacks.

Gaza City resident Ahmed Abu Ayham, who is taking refuge with his family in Khan Yunis, told Reuters his home city was “terrible”.

in the city, which is According to experts the heaviest destruction occurredPeople were seen waving Palestinian flags and filming the scene on their mobile phones.

But the 40-year-old said this was not the time to celebrate, despite the fact that the ceasefire could save lives.

“We are in pain, deep pain and now is the time to embrace each other and cry,” he said.

Gazans were also advancing towards the southern city of Rafah near the Egyptian border.

Mohammed Suleiman told BBC Arabic’s Gaza Lifeline: “Thank God, we received the news of the ceasefire coming into force with joy and happiness.

“God willing, things will change for the better and we will return to Rafah. I hope that every displaced person will return safely to their homes.”

Many people fled the city after Israel ordered them to evacuate before launching an operation in southern Gaza City.

In Rafah, Muhammad al-Jamal, a journalist for the Palestinian newspaper al-Ayyam, reflected on his loss.

The house was razed to the ground; Everything was reduced to rubble,” he said. “The hen house and the fig tree, whose fruits we used to share together, are now a thing of the past.”

The weaknesses of the ceasefire agreement became apparent in its first hours.

The ceasefire eventually took effect after a three-hour delay, during which 19 Palestinians were reportedly killed in what Israel described as an attack on “terrorist targets”.

till noon, Three Israeli female hostages were back in Israel, As part of a six-week first phase in which 33 hostages will be released.

But people in Gaza remain afraid that the ceasefire may falter once again.