Title: Bittersweet Reunions: The Socio-Political and Humanitarian Dynamics of Palestinian Return to Gaza Post-2023 Conflict
Abstract
This paper examines the complexities of Palestinian return to Gaza through the lens of Eatedal Rayyan’s case, a 29-year-old mother who returned to the strip in February 2026 after two years of displacement in Egypt. The analysis situates her journey within broader geopolitical, humanitarian, and psychological frameworks, highlighting the interplay between the longing for home and the challenges of reconstruction in a war-torn homeland. Drawing on primary sources, academic literature, and humanitarian reports, the study explores the implications of return for individual and collective resilience, the role of international actors, and the structural barriers to sustainable reintegration.
- Introduction
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has produced cycles of displacement with profound implications for identity, community, and resilience. The 2023 escalation of hostilities in Gaza marked another phase of devastation, displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. By 2026, partial reconstructions of return mechanisms—such as the reopening of the Rafah border crossing—highlighted the tension between humanitarian imperatives and political realities. This paper analyzes the bittersweet reunion of Palestinians like Eatedal Rayyan, whose return to Gaza embodies both hope and despair. It explores how displacement, often a survival strategy, intersects with the traumatic reintegration of refugees into a homeland reshaped by destruction and political instability.
- Background of the Gaza Conflict (2023–2026)
The 2023 conflict, triggered by Israel’s military response to Hamas’ attacks and Hamas’ subsequent governance under siege, led to catastrophic destruction in Gaza. By mid-2024, over 90% of residential buildings were damaged, and humanitarian conditions deteriorated sharply. While international mediation efforts led to temporary ceasefire agreements, hostilities resumed intermittently, delaying large-scale refugee returns. By early 2026, the Gaza Strip faced a population exodus, with tens of thousands seeking refuge in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. The reopening of Rafah in February 2026, albeit restricted, marked a symbolic and practical shift in return policy, influenced by Egypt’s diplomatic engagement and external pressure.
- Case Study: Eatedal Rayyan and the Paradox of Return
Eatedal Rayyan’s story epitomizes the duality of displacement and return. Fleeing Gaza in March 2024 after her leg injury worsened due to lack of medical care, she joined a diaspora of 30,000+ Palestinians in Egypt. Her return in 2026, facilitated by her regained health, reflects both personal resilience and systemic fragility. The journey through three checkpoints (Egyptian, Palestinian-EU, and Israeli) underscores the bureaucratic and political hurdles to return, while her settlement in a tent in Khan Younis illustrates the inadequate infrastructure. Rayyan’s declaration, “I long to return to my homeland… despite the fact that I will be living in a tent,” encapsulates the emotional pull of home against the stark realities of post-war Gaza.
- The Bittersweet Reunion: Socio-Economic and Humanitarian Realities
a. Physical and Psychological Trauma of War
Gaza’s infrastructure collapse, including electricity, water, and healthcare, renders return precarious. Rayyan’s family, now reliant on a tent, faces exposure to harsh weather and limited access to basic services. Children like Hanan, 8, who endured displacement only to return to a shattered home, may experience compounded trauma, as noted in studies by UNICEF and NGOs on child refugees.
b. Economic and Social Barriers
The absence of employment opportunities and educational systems undermines sustainable return. Rayyan’s husband, Ahmed, represents a generation of Gazans who lost livelihoods and homes. Without reconstruction aid, families risk cyclical displacement, as documented in the UNOCHA 2025 report.
c. Political Dynamics
The restricted nature of Rafah’s reopening reflects Israel’s security concerns and Hamas’ contested governance. The presence of multiple checkpoints mirrors the fractured authority in Gaza, where international actors and local factions mediate access. This fragmentation complicates aid distribution and long-term planning for returnees.
- Policy and Humanitarian Implications
a. Role of International Actors
Egypt’s facilitation of returns, coupled with EU-led humanitarian coordination at checkpoints, highlights the role of intermediaries. However, aid organizations like UNRWA face funding shortages, limiting their capacity to support returning families.
b. Critique of Conditional Returns
Prolonged restrictions on movement and access to Gaza since 2023 have been decried by the UN as violations of human rights. The conditional nature of return—dependent on security justifications and political negotiations—exacerbates marginalization.
c. Reconstruction Challenges
International pledges for Gaza’s rebuilding, including the $6 billion World Bank plan, remain unfulfilled. The absence of accountability from Israel and Hamas for war crimes further impedes funding and coordination.
- Psychological and Social Impact on Returning Families
a. Mental Health Trajectories
Studies on diaspora return, such as those by Betancourt et al. (2017), note that reintegration often triggers post-traumatic stress, especially among children. Rayyan’s family exemplifies this duality: children’s excitement contrasts with underlying anxiety about safety and stability.
b. Community Resilience and Identity
The return of families like Rayyan’s may reinforce communal bonds but also deepen divisions with those who have overstayed in exile or adopted new identities. Oral histories suggest that shared suffering fosters resilience yet risks entrenching cycles of trauma.
c. Gendered Dimensions
Women, as primary caregivers, shoulder disproportionate burdens in reintegration. Rayyan’s medical ordeal and subsequent role in family survival underscore gendered vulnerabilities and agency in displacement contexts.
- Conclusion
The bittersweet reunion of Palestinians returning to Gaza epitomizes the enduring human struggle to reconcile identity with survival under occupation. While personal narratives like Rayyan’s highlight an unyielding attachment to homeland, the structural failures of conflict resolution and reconstruction render return precarious. Future scholarship must address the interplay of political will, humanitarian innovation, and community-led resilience to transform return from a symbol of loss into a strategy for justice. Key areas for advocacy include secure, unimpeded movement, equitable resource distribution, and holistic mental health support for displaced populations.
References
Reuters. (2026). “For Palestinians returning to Gaza, a bittersweet reunion.” The Straits Times.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). (2025). Gaza Humanitarian Response Update.
Betancourt, T. S., et al. (2017). “Exposure to trauma and long-term risks for mental health in children affected by armed conflict.” Annual Review of Public Health.
Shlaim, A. (2000). The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World.
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). (2026). Annual Report on the Gaza Strip.