Over 300,000 Gazans Return North as Ceasefire Enables Movement

The United Nations has documented the movement of more than 300,000 Palestinians from southern to northern Gaza since the implementation of a ceasefire agreement last Friday. This significant population movement reflects the first opportunity for many displaced civilians to return to their home areas following months of restricted movement across the besieged territory.

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq reported Monday that monitoring teams recorded approximately 310,000 movements from southern to northern Gaza between Friday and Sunday, with an additional 23,000 people moving in other directions. "Humanitarians are now able to move more easily in many areas, and so our teams are reaching people in places that had been cut off for up to several months," Haq stated during a press briefing at UN headquarters.

The improved access conditions have enabled aid organizations to preposition medical supplies and emergency resources in previously inaccessible locations while conducting safety assessments of key transportation routes. The UN's Emergency Relief Coordinator has allocated an additional $11 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support humanitarian operations in Gaza ahead of winter conditions. This follows last week's $9 million allocation for fuel supplies, bringing total recent emergency funding to $20 million.

The population movements and humanitarian improvements occur within the framework of a 60-day initial humanitarian plan that includes comprehensive aid delivery across Gaza. The UN and partner organizations plan to distribute essential supplies including food, water, medical services, shelter materials, and hygiene items throughout the territory. These developments follow the ceasefire agreement announced last week by US President Donald Trump, which included prisoner exchanges and initiated the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza after months of military operations that resulted in extensive casualties and destruction.