Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Streets across the Gaza Strip were filled with emotional scenes of joy and determination as thousands of displaced Palestinians began returning to their homes in the north, following the partial reopening of main roads by the Israeli army. The reopening, which comes after sustained and intensive mediation efforts by Egypt, marks a significant turning point in the aftermath of the latest round of conflict that devastated large parts of the enclave.
According to Bashir Jabr, a correspondent for Cairo News Channel reporting from the central city of Nuseirat, the atmosphere was overwhelmingly one of hope and celebration. Speaking in a live phone interview, Jabr described how long-separated families were now walking or riding in vehicles along the reopened Al-Rashid coastal road and Salah al-Din highway, making their way back to towns and neighborhoods they had been forced to flee during the recent Israeli assault.
“Despite the overwhelming destruction that has turned many residential areas into rubble, people are returning with a strong sense of purpose,” Jabr reported. “The joy is palpable. You see it in the faces of children, the elderly, and everyone in between finally able to go home, even if that home is now just debris.”
The roads, critical arteries connecting Gaza’s southern and northern regions, had been largely inaccessible throughout the duration of the conflict. Their reopening, Jabr noted, is a direct result of Egypt’s diplomatic pressure and efforts to implement the ceasefire agreements. Cairo played a key role in brokering and ensuring adherence to the ceasefire, and in pushing for humanitarian guarantees, including the safe return of displaced civilians.
This development, Jabr emphasized, is being viewed on the ground as a meaningful accomplishment for Egypt and a powerful moment for Palestinians. “The people see this day as historic not just because they are going back home, but because Egypt stood firmly by their side and helped them reclaim a fundamental right: to return,” he said.
While the Israeli military has issued warnings against approaching certain zones including the Philadelphi Corridor, the Rafah border crossing, and parts of the coastal strip these warnings have not deterred families from making the journey northward. Many say they are fully aware of the risks but are determined to return to what remains of their homes and communities.
In towns such as Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun, and Jabalia, families are already preparing to erect makeshift tents atop the ruins of their houses. With little to no infrastructure left and basic services largely inoperative, they are relying on resilience and community solidarity to begin the process of rebuilding physically and emotionally.
“This is not just about going back,” one returning resident told local media. “It’s about resisting erasure. Even if all we have is dust and ashes, we will start again from here.”
The scale of destruction across northern Gaza remains immense, and humanitarian organizations warn that without rapid international assistance, rebuilding efforts will be painfully slow. Yet for many Palestinians, the return itself no matter how precarious is an act of defiance and survival.
As Gaza’s residents begin the arduous task of piecing their lives back together, the moment stands as a testament to both human resilience and the power of regional diplomacy. For now, at least, the roads are open, and the people are moving not away from war, but toward what remains of home.
