We want to go back home!

This weekend, seven days after the ceasefire, the road from the displacement camps in central Gaza to the north will finally open. Many Gazans are eager to return home, but the journey is long and arduous.

"People are of two types; one type will travel by vehicle, but this is very expensive. Another type will walk, and this is very tiring", says Mohamed El Madhoun. 

Most people cannot afford to rent a vehicle, yet walking while carrying all their possessions, children, and possibly even disabled family members seems nearly impossible. There is a six-kilometer-wide separation zone between northern and central Gaza, called Netzarim. One option is to walk until reaching Netzarim and then take shared transportation, which would reduce both the cost and the walking distance significantly.

We want to go home but what if home is no longer there?

Nour, Mohamed and family are displaced in Al-Zawada area, which is about 30 kilometres away from their home in Sheikh Radwan area, north of Gaza city. They cannot afford to rent a vehicle but carrying their three small children all the way is also impossible. They are considering walking part of the way and then taking the public transportation, depending on how many donations they get and what they can afford. 

They will need to leave all their possessions behind, taking just one backpack with bare essentials with them. "We will return after two weeks to carry them...if they are not stolen. Most people here leave their things behind. I hope to find my blankets at my home”, said Nour. When asked why they don't wait a couple of weeks and then travel with everything, her response was "No, we can't. We are afraid that the war will return and that we will not be able to return [home]".

Most people here leave their things behind

It has been ten months since they last saw pictures of their home. Back then, it was still standing, albeit damaged, and there is no guarantee of its current condition.. "I'm worried about my home, I'm worried that everything has been stolen", 

Jameel's struggle knowing the destruction that awaits him

Jameel and family, displaced in Deir al Balah in central Gaza, are also planning to travel north to Gaza City this weekend. They have already discovered that their shoe factory, the largest in Gaza, has been reduced to rubble, with little left to salvage. The last time he saw pictures of his house, it was damaged but not beyond repair. He hopes this is still the case, as he faces an impossible dilemma:

"Yesterday we saw that our factory was completely destroyed. Two thousand square meters area...and many machines were destroyed...and many raw materials...they were all destroyed, and we lost them. And now my company is completely destroyed. I don't know whether to rebuild my business or rebuild my house. I must rebuild all things...and rebuild myself".

I don't know whether to rebuild my business or rebuild my house

Jameel's brother, who has Down syndrome and is also blind, will face significant challenges during the journey. Walking a long distance through streets full of rubble will be difficult, and Jameel's two young children will struggle to make the journey on foot. He would like to secure a car for at least part of the way, but it's both expensive and complicated. All vehicles entering the area will be subject to searches by Israeli forces, which could lead to long delays.

"We do not know what will happen on Saturday...Most likely we will learn the news tomorrow through Israeli channels. We have prepared our belongings and our situation...and at any time tomorrow we may move to the north and meet my home and friends...and hope that we arrive safely and well."

Travelling to the north with a tent

While Jameel knows his factory is gone, Mohammed and Fadwa have already accepted that they have no home to return to. Their plans to move into their new house after their wedding were shattered by the war. Their home, built with Mohammed's own hands, is now rubble. They have been living in a tent ever since but still wish to return to their hometown in the north, hoping that old friends and neighbors—those who are still alive—will return as well.

With no hope of finding their house standing, Mohammed has decided to return with his displacement tent. "I will try to move my tent to north Gaza. I will keep living in a tent until I rebuild my home." Mohammed has opted for the transportation by car, which will cost 520$. It is very expensive but there is no other solution because they cannot afford to leave everything behind. 

I will keep living in a tent until I rebuild my home

You can still help Nour, Mohamed and family, Jameel and family and Mohammed, Fadwa and family in their difficult journey. You will find their donation links by clicking on their names above. Thank you for your kindness. Together we are powerful.