According to a report by The Times of Israel, the joy that followed the Isreal-Gaza ceasefire quickly turned to disbelief as families journeyed home to find nothing left but ashes, debris, and silence.
Thousands of Gazans began picking through the ruins of their shattered homes on Friday after a ceasefire deal, the excitement of return was quickly tempered by shock at the depth of the destruction and anxiety over the hardships ahead.
The ceasefire triggered an emotional homecoming. Families traveled by foot, bicycle, or donkey cart, their faces filled with hope — until they saw what was left. Neighborhoods that once bustled with life were now fields of rubble and dust.
“Thank God, my house is still standing,” said Ismail Zayda, a father of three. “But the area is destroyed, my neighbors’ houses are destroyed – entire districts are gone.”
For others, there was nothing left to return to. “We went to our area – it was exterminated,” said Khan Younis resident Ahmed al-Brim.
Despite the despair, some Gazans found solace in the simple act of going home. “Of course, there are no homes – they’ve been destroyed – but we are happy just to return to where our homes were, even over the rubble,” said Mahdi Saqla.
The war, which began after Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, has left Gaza unrecognizable. More than 67,000 people have been killed or are presumed dead, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israel says it has killed thousands of Hamas fighters while seeking to minimize civilian casualties.
For mothers like Balqees, the ceasefire offered no comfort. “Okay, it is over — then what? There is no home I can go back to,” she said. “They have destroyed everything.”
As Gazans sift through what remains of their lives, the relief of peace has quickly faded into grief. Streets are silent, laughter has vanished, and the future feels distant. The war may have paused, but for the people of Gaza, the struggle to rebuild — and to find meaning amid the ruins — has only begun. See, More, Here>>>>
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