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The Israeli military declares that “the war is not over” and forbids civilians from going back to northern Gaza.
As displaced Palestinians try to make the most of the ceasefire in the fighting to return home, Israel has declared that northern Gaza is off limits.
As the four-day truce mediated by Qatar began on Friday morning, a large number of displaced individuals were making their way back home throughout Gaza. Israel has issued a warning, though, saying that entry to the war-torn enclave’s northern region will not be permitted.
Despite the Israeli army’s declaration that Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip remains a battle zone, footage acquired by Al Jazeera shows Palestinians returning to their homes.
In an attempt to reach northern Gaza, the Israeli force is said to have killed at least two Palestinians and injured eleven more.
From occupied East Jerusalem, Mohammed Jamjoom of Al Jazeera said, “The Israeli military has stated that it expects Hamas to try to encourage or push civilians to return to the northern part of the Gaza Strip and that it was prepared to prevent it from happening.”
According to the Associated Press, Israel warned the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who had fled north during its ground invasion by dropping leaflets over southern Gaza.
Nevertheless, on Friday, hundreds could be seen strolling north.
Palestinian news agency Wafa said, citing witnesses, that seven individuals attempted to enter northern Gaza but were injured by Israeli authorities.
According to Tareq Abu Azzoum of Al Jazeera, from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, several people have been hurt and are being transported back to hospitals in the southern part of the region.
Israeli forces fired and killed two, and injured the legs of eleven others. As they arrived to a hospital, two dead and the injured were observed by an AP writer.
A statement on X was issued in Arabic by Avichay Adraee, a spokeswoman for the Israeli military.
It said, “Gaza residents will only be permitted to travel from the north to the south; no movement of people from the south to the north of the Strip will be permitted in any manner.”
Please refrain from approaching the military installations and the regions to the north of the Gaza Valley. Utilize this opportunity to restock on necessities and make plans for the future,” he said.
It is not permitted to remain in the battle zone located to the north of the Gaza Strip. For your own protection, we implore you to heed the lessons and warnings because the fight is far from done, Adraee continued.
“Everything is malfunctioning.”
After seven weeks of Israeli artillery and ground incursions that began on October 7, many civilians have nowhere to return.
Ashraf Shann, a resident of Gaza, told Al Jazeera that he felt conflicted about the ceasefire.
Even if [the Israelis] let us return to Gaza City, I have nowhere to go. On the third day of the battle, my house was bombed and totally destroyed,” he claimed.
“Yet, I also feel joy for those whose loved ones are absent. They can at least go pick up the pieces and attempt to locate them.
“Everything is broken in Gaza,” declared Palestinian refugee Zak Hania after leaving the Shati camp.
“We are unsure of whether to feel joy or sorrow. These days, everything in Gaza is broken, including our homes and emotions. From the southern city of Khan Younis, he spoke with Al Jazeera, saying, “We do not know how life will continue after this.”
Hania stated, “We can’t go because the Israeli army said nobody’s allowed to go back to the north and people are afraid and hesitant to go,” when asked whether he was planned to return home during the truce.
“I believe that returning is risky as they are still on the route that divides Gaza’s north and south. He remarked, “We’re simply hoping that the truce holds since we don’t know anything else.
Aiming for a war restart
Reporting from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, Hani Mahmoud stated that residents are greatly disappointed by the impending return of the conflict in a few days.
“After 48 days of nonstop airstrikes and killings, so many Palestinians have been surrounded by destruction and blood, as well as the bodies of loved ones and family members,” Mahmoud stated. “There is a sense of happiness and optimism, but it is a cautious optimism.”
He stated, “People want to take a moment to just check on each other and check on their homes and belongings. That’s when the ceasefire comes in.”
Mahmoud said, “There’s also the impending reality that the war will recommence in a few days, per Israeli officials.”
He stated, “Many Palestinians feel this ceasefire is unfair and incomplete, and that statement was very devastating and depressing for them. They want to go check on their homes and see who is left among their family members.”
Since October 7, about 14,800 individuals have died in Gaza as a result of Israel’s conflict. About 1,200 people are officially dead in Israel as a result of Hamas’s pre-war strikes.
