On Wednesday, the Israeli army announced it was closing the Al-Rasheed coastal road – the vital link between southern and northern Gaza. From noon onwards, only southbound travel would be allowed, effectively preventing thousands of displaced Palestinians from returning to their homes in northern Gaza City.
Since October 2023, Israeli forces have repeatedly cut off this route, isolating the north and worsening living conditions in the coastal enclave. Though a fragile ceasefire in January 2025 briefly reopened Al-Rasheed, the road has remained closed during recent operations.
In September, ground troops advanced into several Gaza City neighborhoods in what military officials called the heaviest fighting of the campaign. Armored units are pushing forward toward areas still held by Hamas fighters, with the stated goal of freeing the remaining hostages.
According to United Nations estimates, around 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced multiple times since the conflict began. Humanitarian organizations warn that the latest closure will deepen the isolation of northern Gaza, disrupt aid deliveries, and heighten the risk of shortages in food, water, and medical supplies.
For young global citizens, entrepreneurs, and activists tracking this crisis, the closure of Al-Rasheed offers a stark reminder of how access and logistics shape humanitarian outcomes. As the international community watches, reopening critical corridors and scaling aid will be essential to ease Gaza’s growing needs.
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Israel shuts return route for displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza
cgtn.com
