Al Jazeera has spoken to another displaced Palestinian heading back to his hometown of Beit Hanoon in northern Gaza.

The man described today’s scenes as “memorable” and a mix of “grief with joy”.

“I am returning home, I know my home has been flattened, I am grieving the loved ones I lost but we are telling the whole world: We are holding steadfast to our home soil, to our homeland,” he said from the coastal al-Rashid Street.

“We are going to rebuild our homes brick by brick, wall by wall and we will relive all the sweet memories we had in the past.”

The returnee said he expected the coming days to be “difficult” but expressed hope that peace would prevail and there would be no more war.

“And that the people will lend us a helping hand, start the rebuilding process, and we will be able to resume our normal way of life and bring our children back to school.”