world
Gazans Stranded in West Bank Since October 2023 Remain Unable to Return
Dozens of men from Gaza have lived in makeshift conditions in the West Bank for more than two and a half years after traveling there before the war began. The Palestinian Authority's labour ministry reported providing cash assistance to 4,605 such individuals as of March. Many have lost homes in Gaza to destruction and face separation from their families.
May 9, 6:00 AM·2m read1 source
972mag.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
Under the bleachers of a stadium in the West Bank city of Nablus, a dozen men from Gaza live in a former changing room. They have been blocked from returning home by the war that began more than two and a half years ago. Among them is a 54-year-old man from Khan Yunis who had been working odd jobs in Tel Aviv, where wages are higher than in Gaza.
He traveled to Nablus four days before the war started on October 7, 2023. He now collects and resells recyclables to send money to his family after losing two sons to airstrikes. "I entered (Israel) only four days before the war," he said from the space he set up under the stadium stands.
"Look at me now -- I live in a tent. " He fashioned a dresser from cardboard boxes and decorated the walls with Palestinian flags and a portrait of Yasser Arafat found while collecting recyclables. All the men spoken to at the stadium had lost their homes in airstrikes and showed videos and photos of the destruction.
Another man, who declined to share his last name, arrived in the West Bank 10 days before the war to seek medical treatment for his son that was unavailable in Gaza. His son returned home, but he stayed to provide for the family and now lives in the stadium changing room.
"It's boring, but what can we do? We're in a jail," he said. He hung sheets on ropes to create dividers, similar to tent camps in Gaza. A 43-year-old businessman from Gaza moved from Tel Aviv to Ramallah after the war began. He had traveled two days before October 7 on a business permit.
He opened a falafel restaurant in Ramallah that employs nine people, all from Gaza, and sends support to his family. "Of course Gaza is dearer than here, but there, there is no home left, nothing," he said.
