Palestinian Families Return to Ruins in Gaza City, Rebuild Lives Amid Devastation
Displaced residents carry tents and memories back to destroyed neighborhoods as shelter crisis deepens
Families across Gaza were witnessed journeying back to Gaza City today, determined to reclaim what remains of their former homes after months of bombardment. Crowds included children, women, elderly, cars, vans, and donkey carts loaded with furniture—each group carrying makeshift tents to pitch over the ruins of their destroyed houses.
Having fled Gaza City due to intense military operations and lacking space in central and southern parts of Gaza, their return is seen by many as a historic and emotional step. Yet, this homecoming is fraught with hardship, as barely any buildings remain standing, and an urgent need persists for tents and mobile shelters.
Voices from the Return
- Ahmed Abu Shanab:
“We returned from the south to the north. The journey was very difficult, we suffered a lot, we did not have enough space and we literally could not sleep.” - Maryam Abu Jabal:
“We returned to the unknown, and we don’t know if our homes still exist. We hope to God that our home is still standing.” - Mohammed Sharaf:
“Everything has changed, we have returned to a disaster that we cannot comprehend, we don’t know what to do now. We thought we would leave for a few days, now we’re back and we have found nothing.”
With Gaza City lying in ruins, the humanitarian situation demands urgent international help: shelter, resources, and hope for families striving to rebuild their lives from the rubble.Thousands of Palestinians are returning to Gaza City, setting up makeshift tents over the ruins of their former homes in the wake of massive destruction. Many found no shelter in the central or southern parts of Gaza and traveled back in large groups—families moving on foot, by vehicle, or donkey cart, carrying what belongings they could. This collective return is considered historic but highlights the desperate need for tents and mobile housing as nearly all buildings in Gaza City have been destroyed.
Testimonies from returning Palestinians:
- Ahmed Abu Shanab: “We returned from the south to the north. The journey was very difficult, we suffered a lot, we did not have enough space and we literally could not sleep.”
- Maryam Abu Jabal: “We returned to the unknown, and we don’t know if our homes still exist. We hope to God that our home is still standing.”
- Mohammed Sharaf: “Everything has changed, we have returned to a disaster that we cannot comprehend, we don’t know what to do now. We thought we would leave for a few days, now we’re back and we have found nothing.”
Gaza now faces an escalating shelter crisis, with urgent need for resources to support families as they attempt to rebuild their lives.
