For the first time since initiating ground operations in Gaza in October, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have informed residents in certain areas that they can return to their homes. However, what they find upon their return is nothing short of devastating. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, leaving returning families in shock and despair.

IDF Signals Return, But Homes Are Gone

On Thursday, the IDF announced via social media that residents of three neighborhoods in Deir Al Balah, central Gaza, could safely return. This message, the first of its kind since the start of the military offensive, raised hopes among displaced families that they might find some semblance of their previous lives. However, those hopes were quickly dashed.

Many residents, like Abdulfattah Al Bourdaini, came back to find their homes completely destroyed. “We came home and found nothing, no power, no gas, no house,” Al Bourdaini told CNN. He described his devastation, noting that all he could salvage was a teddy bear meant for a future child he hoped to have. His brother, Musa Al Bourdaini, was equally stunned, questioning why their home, capable of housing 120 people, had been targeted and obliterated.

A Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The destruction of these neighborhoods only exacerbates the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Since the Israeli military’s operation began, many residents have been displaced multiple times, each move compounding their suffering. The constant shifts have also made delivering humanitarian aid even more challenging.

The IDF’s recent posts on social media state that these neighborhoods, now within the “Humanitarian Area,” are safe for return. However, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The areas residents are returning to are uninhabitable, with entire blocks reduced to debris. Some, like Abdul Raouf Radwan, returned with hopes of reoccupying their homes, only to find them completely destroyed. “Our dreams were destroyed, our memories were destroyed… The house that our ancestors built was all gone,” he said.

Destruction and Despair

The scenes of devastation have left many residents questioning the future. Yamen al Tabi, another resident, returned to find his home in ruins. Overcome with grief, he lamented, “I wish I had been buried in the house. I wish I had died in the house and not returned and seen the scene that I saw.” Others, like Raouf Ayesh, who had taken refuge in tents, returned with hopes of retrieving their belongings, only to find nothing left.

The situation is further complicated by the ongoing military operations. The IDF’s statement on Friday highlighted the completion of a divisional operation in Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah, where they reported eliminating over 250 terrorists and destroying significant infrastructure, including underground tunnels. While these operations may have been deemed successful from a military perspective, the human toll is undeniable.

Voices of Anguish

For many residents, the return home has been a moment of deep anguish. Hanan Al-Arabeed, a widow, found her home completely destroyed. With two disabled children, she is now forced to live in the streets, with nothing salvaged from her former life. Her sister, Umm Kareem Al-Arabeed, expressed her frustration and resilience, stating, “We will start from the beginning and anew. We will start over.”

The sentiment of despair is widespread among those who have returned. The destruction of their homes symbolizes not just the loss of physical structures but the erasure of their memories, dreams, and future hopes.

A Shrinking Humanitarian Zone

The United Nations’ main agency for Palestinian humanitarian relief, UNRWA, reports that nearly 84% of Gaza has been under evacuation orders since the war began. The so-called “humanitarian zone,” designated by Israel, has been steadily shrinking. In the past month, it has been reduced by 38%, leaving only a small fraction of Gaza’s total area for residents to inhabit.

As Gaza residents grapple with the devastation of their homes, the broader humanitarian crisis continues to worsen. The conflict’s toll on civilians is immense, and the path to recovery seems increasingly distant. For those returning to find only rubble where their homes once stood, the future is fraught with uncertainty and unimaginable hardship.