‘My heart is split in two’: The women waiting to return to northern Gaza
Al Jazeera
Women in Gaza tell their stories of loss and grief as they plan what to do when they return home.
Deir el-Balah, Gaza Strip – Inshirah Darabeh has just one thought on her mind as she prepares to leave the home of her in-laws near Deir el-Balah and travel to her home in Gaza City: finding the body of her daughter, Maram, and giving her a dignified burial.
“I am not going back to find my home, all I want is to find her grave and put her name on a tombstone,” she says. Inshirah, 55, will walk more than 10km (6 miles) through rubble and bomb craters to reach her home. She thinks it will take at least three hours.
Inshirah is overwhelmed with mixed feelings of dread, pain and relief, she says, as she finally leaves the place she has sheltered in for the past year from Israel’s brutal war on Gaza, which has left more than 46,000 Palestinians dead and many thousands more unaccounted for and assumed dead under the rubble. Most of those killed have been women and children.
In accordance with the terms of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas which came into effect last Sunday, on day seven of the ceasefire – Saturday this week – internally displaced Palestinians were to be allowed to return without inspection by Israeli soldiers to their homes in the north, which has been under a deadly military siege since October 2024.
However, this was temporarily thrown into doubt on Saturday following the second prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel. Israel said it would not allow the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza until an issue involving the release of one captive, Arbel Yehoud, is resolved.
Five months after Sheikh Hasina’s removal, the party is divided. Some leaders won’t apologise; others want a reckoning
President Petro says Bogota will block US deportation flights until migrants are guaranteed ‘dignified treatment’.
Trump says relocation may be temporary or long-term as he announces lifting of hold on 2,000-pound bombs for Israel.
Nine South African and three Malawian peacekeeping soldiers have been killed by M23 rebels, authorities say.
The identities of the prisoners were not disclosed.
Women in Gaza tell their stories of loss and grief as they plan what to do when they return home.
Israel expected to release dozens of Palestinians held in Israeli jails as part of the ceasefire deal.
Newly signed executive order has ‘broader implications’ than travel ban Trump imposed in his first term, experts say.
Some fear collective punishment could be a consequence of the billionaire’s relentless posts on child sex abuse cases.
Despite protests from locals, India is building a giant hydro dam on the Siang River to counter a Chinese dam.
The UN body has received a formal request from Washington to withdraw next year as Trump orders a pause on WHO funding.
Trump repeats familiar grievances and threatens allies like Canada and the European Union with tariffs.
Trump repeats familiar grievances and threatens allies like Canada and the European Union with tariffs.
US president offers few details on push to end nearly three-year war in Ukraine as he delivers speech via videolink.
Truce in war-battered Gaza continues to hold as Palestinians return home to vast devastation and vow to reconstruct.
Ukraine attacks Russian oil refineries and war production with increasing success.
Firefighting aircraft and ground crews are battling fast-moving wildfire in the Castaic Lake area north of Los Angeles.
Steve Witkoff says he seeks to assure the Gaza ceasefire deal will reach its second phase, despite Trump’s doubts.