Palestinian families displaced by months of armed conflict have begun moving into the newly established Al-Zahraa camp in the Netzarim area of Gaza, marking a cautious but meaningful step toward stability after prolonged hardship. The camp, prepared and equipped by the Egyptian Committee for Aid Relief, is part of a broader humanitarian effort to provide organised and dignified shelter for families affected by the war.
Footage from the site shows families arriving with the few belongings they managed to carry, while workers from the Egyptian Committee complete final setup tasks. Inside the tents, families can be seen arranging their possessions—small, practical actions that signal the start of rebuilding everyday life after repeated displacement.
“We endured tremendous hardship in this war, constantly fleeing from one place to another. Each stage was more difficult than the last,” said Samah Balousha, a displaced woman now settling into the camp. “Now, thank God, we feel a small measure of stability.”
Another resident, Umm Anas, echoed that sentiment, expressing hope for the future. “We pray this marks a good beginning and makes up for all we have been through,” she said. “We came here to build a life.”
According to Muhammad Mansour, spokesperson for the Egyptian Committee for Aid Relief, Al-Zahraa camp currently consists of 900 tents, designed to accommodate 900 families. He confirmed that the camp has been fully equipped with essential services, including medical clinics, soup kitchens (takaya), schools, water wells, and desalinated water supplies, aimed at meeting both immediate humanitarian needs and longer-term community stability.
Earlier on Saturday, the Egyptian Committee announced that it had officially begun the settlement process at Al-Zahraa camp. In a statement, the committee described the initiative as part of a comprehensive Egyptian plan to strengthen shelter efforts and move away from temporary, emergency responses toward a more stable and organised living environment for displaced families.
The groundwork for the project began earlier, on November 11, 2025, when the committee revealed it had launched extensive preparations in the Netzarim area, south of the Gaza Strip. The plan envisioned the establishment of what would become the largest humanitarian shelter camp in Gaza, spanning an estimated 2,000 dunams.
The relocation comes amid a fragile calm following a ceasefire agreement signed between Hamas and Israel, which took effect on Friday, October 10, under the framework of the 20-point “Trump Plan.” The agreement includes an immediate cessation of hostilities, the release of all hostages—alive or dead—and the facilitation of humanitarian aid into the Gaza enclave.
For families arriving at Al-Zahraa, the ceasefire and the new camp represent more than political developments; they offer a rare pause in uncertainty and a chance, however modest, to begin again.