Palestinians Return to Gaza Homes After Ceasefire, Confronting Loss and Devastation

After 15 months of war, displaced families in Gaza face the challenge of rebuilding their lives amid widespread destruction.

A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has allowed hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes in northern Gaza for the first time in over a year.
The conflict, which began in October 2023 following a Hamas attack on Israel, resulted in over 47,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction across the enclave, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Many returning families, such as the Mohammed family, face the harsh reality of destroyed homes, lack of basic necessities, and uncertainty about the future despite the joy of returning to their land.
Stories of resilience, including emotional reunions like that of twin brothers Ibrahim and Mahmoud al-Atout, highlight the human toll of the war and the enduring hope for recovery and peace.
Palestinians accuse Israel of indiscriminate bombardment, while Israel asserts that its military operations targeted Hamas, which it accuses of operating within civilian areas.