Ceasefire in Gaza: Palestinians return home as roads reopen

The destruction that we walked through was worse than the apocalypse,

Shehada said

The first thing I’ll do is hug my mother at her shelter,

said Anwar Abu Hindi (41), a housewife heading north with several children

We flipped the table on its head,

said Ahmed Shehada (34), a textile manufacturer who trekked roughly 25km in six hours to Gaza City

They wanted to expel us from Gaza,

Shehada said by phone

Thank God we survived this war,

said Shorouq al-Qur (27), a law graduate who returned to Gaza City

I’m sitting on the couch in my home, and I can’t believe it.”

Instead, he added

Stand by each other, people of Palestine, stand by each other. Palestine is gone, but it has not bid you a final farewell,

she sang with a smile on her face

Thank God, we’re returning to our homes, after suffering so much ruin and hunger and disease.”

Then she added

I haven’t seen my family for a year and a half, I want to go back to see them. I’ve been waiting for three days to go to my parents,

Mohammed Adas, 19, told Reuters

I am very happy we will meet our families,

she added

I have everything packed and ready to go with the first light of day, ... At least we are going back home, now I can say war is over and I hope it will stay calm.”

she said, adding

We waited here for three days in the cold and hunger to return,

she said