Video: Emotional reunion in Gaza as displaced Palestinians return amid destruction

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2025-01-27T060134Z_446608961_RC26ICAH50T4_RTRMADP_3_ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-GAZA-CEASEFIRE-1737958260

[Mohammed Salem/Reuters]

A poignant video shared by Al Jazeera captures the heartfelt reunion of a young man with his mother after over a year of separation caused by the war in Gaza.

As displaced Palestinians begin returning to the devastated northern region, the man is seen embracing his mother, tears streaming down his face as he mourns the loss of a loved one. “Hamed was the first to want to welcome me. May God have mercy on him, for the sake of the nation,” he says, his voice breaking with emotion.

Despite the joy of reunions, the reality in northern Gaza is dire. Tamara Alrifai, spokesperson for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), highlighted the immense challenges facing returning residents. She noted that 90 percent of buildings and public infrastructure have been destroyed by Israeli airstrikes.

“The risks of unexploded devices, particularly for children, are very high,” Alrifai warned, emphasizing the dire lack of food and daily necessities.

The recent ceasefire has allowed for some humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza, with UNRWA delivering 60 percent of the food supplies that have entered during this period.

“We have the largest number of trucks, the warehouses, and the shelters with up to one million people inside them,” Alrifai explained. She also highlighted UNRWA’s role in coordinating with other UN agencies and NGOs to overcome past restrictions on food and supplies.

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