It was the moment everyone in southern Gaza had been waiting for: the chance to return to their homes, or what remained of them, in Gaza City and northern Gaza. On October 10, as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, throngs of people began the march back north, moving up the coastal al-Rashid road in a sight reminiscent of Gazans’ historic return march during the January-March ceasefire earlier this year.

On Saturday morning, a statement from the Gaza Civil Defense said that over 300,000 people had made the trek to Gaza City over the past two days.

“No tents or mobile homes are available to house the returnees from the south,” the statement said.

Ismail Thawabta, head of the Government Media Office in Gaza, confirmed that over 300,000 re

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