Friends of the three hostages released on Sunday danced, sang, and waved Israeli flags in the air as they gathered at a hospital’s helipad. Gal Kubani, 28, a friend of Ms. Damari’s, said she was “overjoyed” by news of her release and “proud of Emily for surviving this madness.”
In Gaza, the celebration was tempered by grief. More than 46,000 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli military campaign, according to Gazan health officials, who don’t distinguish between civilians and combatants. Vast swaths of the enclave lie in ruins, and many displaced people have no homes to which to return.,
Soon after the fighting stopped, waves of displaced Palestinians began heading north, anxious to see whether any parts of their homes still stood.
Many people said they were determined to start to reclaim the lives they had once known, despite the huge amount of destruction across the enclave. “The joy of returning home is overwhelming, but it’s mixed with sadness,” said Ahed al-Okka, 52, a construction worker from Gaza City.
For others like Suhaila Dawaas, a displaced Gazan who said she had lost eight relatives in the war, grief overshadowed any hope for the future. Her home was mostly destroyed, although she hoped to find a few reminders of the life her family once had in the rubble.
