Joy fades as Gazans return to destroyed homes

As Palestinians took to the streets of Gaza to celebrate the ceasefire, moments of joy faded for many when they returned home to destruction.

In Jabalia, a town in northern Gaza that is home to the strip’s largest refugee camp, images and videos shared by residents revealed entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble.

Returning to the Al-Faluja area in Jabalia, Duaa al-Khalidi told BBC News: “I survived with my two daughters and we came out from under the rubble of our house.

“Here, under the rubble, the bodies of my husband, my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law remain buried since October 9.”

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

The Jabalia camp, once home to more than 250,000 Palestinians, became the site of the largest and most violent Israeli military operation during the war, with around 4,000 Palestinians killed, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

Also returning to Jabalia Hussein Awda, who documented his return journey from Gaza City.

The professional weightlifter, who has represented Palestine internationally, lost 10 members of his family at the start of the war.

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

He also posted a video revealing the devastation of his three-story home and the sports club he owns.

“Here I lost the people closest to my heart: my brothers, my children, my source of livelihood. The war destroyed everything beautiful that was inside us.”

In the southern city of Khan Younis, armed Hamas fighters marched through the streets among cheering and chanting crowds, according to the Reuters news agency.

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

Gaza City resident Ahmed Abu Ayham, who has taken refuge with his family in Khan Younis, told Reuters his hometown was “appalling”.

In the city, which has suffered the greatest destruction according to expertsPeople were seen waving the Palestinian flag and filming scenes with their mobile phones.

But the 40-year-old said it was no time for celebrations even though the ceasefire could save lives.

“We are suffering, deep pain and it is time for us to hug each other and cry,” he said.

Gazans were also moving to the southern city of Rafah, near the border with Egypt.

Mohammed Suleiman told BBC Arabic’s Gaza Lifeline: “Thank God, we have received the news that the ceasefire came 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 returns home safely.”

Many fled the city after Israel ordered its evacuation before launching an operation in the southern Gaza city.

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

The house was razed; “Everything was reduced to rubble,” he said. “The chicken coop and the fig tree whose fruits we shared are now a thing of the past.”

The fragility of the ceasefire agreement became evident in its first hours.

The truce finally came into effect after a three-hour delay, during which 19 Palestinians were reportedly killed in what Israel called attacks on “terrorist targets.”

In the afternoon, three Israeli 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 fearful that the truce could fail once again.