Despite the hardships of travel and the reality of destruction... Dozens of wounded Palestinians return to the Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip received a new batch of wounded Palestinians who completed their treatment journeys abroad, where feelings of joy at their arrival mingled with the bitterness of the complex humanitarian reality witnessed in the Strip. The returnees insisted on returning to their homes despite the massive destruction and the loss of basic necessities of life, in a clear message of steadfastness on their land.

Sources reported that the journey was fraught with hardships and challenges, especially at the border crossings, which are subject to strict security measures. One of the returnees described her experience as extremely exhausting, while also noting the medical and humanitarian care she received in Egyptian hospitals during her treatment period.

Upon their arrival in Khan Yunis, the returnees found themselves facing a painful reality, as many of them were forced to go directly to the tents of shelter centers. This forced step comes after the occupation forces completely destroyed their homes during military operations that targeted residential areas in the Strip.

A returning woman recounted painful details about the loss of her son during his treatment journey, as he suffered a deterioration in his health before his death far from his homeland. Despite this loss, the woman affirmed that Gaza remains beautiful in the eyes of its people despite all the destruction it has suffered, expressing her hope for the start of the reconstruction phase soon.

For their part, other returnees spoke about being subjected to abusive practices by occupation soldiers during their crossing, including humiliating searches and confiscation of personal belongings. One young man confirmed that these procedures, including restrictions and long waits, did not prevent him from insisting on returning to Gaza, which he sees as his only option.

In an emotional scene, families welcomed their wounded children with tears of joy after an absence that lasted for years in some cases, with one returnee mentioning that he had been away from the Strip for about two and a half years. The families considered the safety of their children and their return to the family's embrace to be the greatest gain in these harsh circumstances.

This batch's return comes amid limited operation of the Rafah land crossing, which faces operational difficulties after long periods of closure that negatively affected the movement of patients. Thousands of wounded in Gaza face immense challenges in accessing necessary medical care due to the collapse of the local health system.

Field sources indicated that the occupation continues to exert security pressure on returnees by subjecting them to lengthy interrogations and harsh waiting conditions. These practices are considered part of the ongoing policy of tightening restrictions aimed at complicating the lives of Palestinians even after the cessation of direct military operations.

It is worth noting that the Gaza Strip is trying to recover from the effects of a devastating war that lasted for two years, resulting in tens of thousands of martyrs and wounded and unprecedented destruction of infrastructure. This reality has made travel for treatment an inevitable necessity for many cases for which treatment is not available in the destroyed hospitals.

Despite the ceasefire agreement coming into effect on October 10, 2025, Israeli violations continue to cast a shadow over the lives of the residents. The testimonies of the returning wounded reflect a popular determination to stay and adapt to the most difficult living conditions, preferring to live in tents rather than remain in exile.

Gaza remains beautiful despite its bitterness, and staying in a tent inside the Strip is still better than living outside it.