Thousands of Palestinians risking their lives for a chance to return home in Gaza
In a heartbreaking and tense situation, thousands of Palestinians made a desperate attempt to return to their homes in northern Gaza on Sunday, facing Israeli military fire as they tried to cross into the region. The emotional scenes were captured in video footage showing families, including women and children, walking along the Al Rasheed coastal road, some on bicycles, donkey carts, and pick-up trucks.
Despite reports that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were allowing women and children to move up north, the IDF has denied these claims. Many of the displaced individuals had been living in Rafah, fearing an imminent Israeli offensive in their area.
The Gaza Ministry of Health has reported a devastating toll of 33,729 dead and 76,371 injured in the Gaza Strip since October 7, highlighting the dire situation in the region. Among those attempting to return home were emotional accounts of displacement, including a young boy carrying his younger sibling and a mother whose daughter was injured during the chaos.
As the civilians tried to cross into northern Gaza, chaos and injuries ensued as Israeli soldiers opened fire on them, leading to graphic scenes of violence. One particularly heartbreaking moment was captured in footage showing a 5-year-old girl named Sally being treated for head and arm wounds at a hospital.
CNN has reached out to the IDF for comment on the incident, but has not yet received a response. The situation in Gaza remains volatile, with the lives of innocent civilians hanging in the balance as they try to return to their homes in the face of danger and uncertainty.
