Home into chaos: Gaza residents defy destruction and suffering!

Home into chaos: Gaza residents defy destruction and suffering!

The fate of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has taken a tragic turn in the past few months. Today, on January 27, 2025, thousands of residents started returning to their home in the north of the Gaza Strip after 15 months of exile. This return was made possible by an agreement between Israel and Hamas, in which the group assured the release of an Israeli hostage. The decision was made by the Israeli government and offers hope for many who suffered from the devastation of the past few months.

thousands waited for days at the Netzarim corridor, the border point that shares the Gaza strip. Among the returnees is Hassan Al-Wadija, who, despite the destruction, emphasizes that they will never give up their country and their homeland. Marwa Omar returns with her three children and describes the long waiting time and the painful return to what was once at home. Tawfik Ridwan, who returns to the Sheikh Radwan district of Gaza City, also faces enormous challenges. After his expulsion to the city of Chan Junis, he plans to rebuild his house from the ground up and restore life in his home country.

The current challenges in Gaza

The return took place in the context of a ceasefire that has been in force since January 19, 2025, which was launched as part of an agreement between Israel and Hamas. This agreement stipulates that Hamas expires 33 hostages during the fire break. The ceasefire is divided into three phases, and Israel has already started the military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip to hand over hostages and prisoners. Aid organizations also receive relieved access to the needy regions of the Gaza Strip, where urgent humanitarian support is required.

Overall, experts estimated the costs for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip to around $ 18.5 billion. The last conflicts have left devastating damage - 69 percent of the buildings in the Gaza Strip are damaged or destroyed, several hundred thousand residential buildings are affected. It remains unclear how many of the Israeli hostages that are still in captivity will be released and under what conditions this happens. The remaining hostages of those who were captured in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 could still be in critical condition.

political uncertainties and humanitarian Situation

The reconstruction of the Gaza Strip is not only difficult by the destruction, but also by the ongoing political uncertainty. Hamas still remains in power and there are hardly any perspectives for a return of the Palestinian autonomic authority in the Gaza Strip. Questions about the political future and the rule over the area remain unclear, since foreign investments and external help depend heavily on the stability of the political situation. Many humanitarian helpers and international actors are waiting before they take part in the reconstruction.

In this critical period, the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promises a program of 120 million euros for Gaza's humanitarian support. But the path to stability and an effective reconstruction is long and associated with many challenges. While returning home is a first delicate glimmer of hope for many, the severity of the destruction and uncertainty of the future remains an urgent reality in the life of the inhabitants of Gaza.

The situation requires urgent measures to cope with the enormous damage and to lay the foundation for a fair and sustainable future. The return of the Palestinians to their homeland gives people new courage, but the challenges they expect are enormous.