Gaza families reunite as Palestinians return in limited numbers amid Israeli restrictions

SHOTLIST: GAZA, PALESTINE (FEBRUARY 27, 2026) 1. PALESTINIANS ARRIVING BY BUS AT NASSER HOSPITAL AFTER RETURNING TO GAZA STRIP 2. VARIOUS OF PALESTINIANS GETTING OFF BUS UPON RETURNING TO GAZA 3. PALESTINIAN HAYAT ABID SPEAKING TO REPORTER UPON RETURNING TO GAZA 4. VARIOUS OF PALESTINIANS REUNITING WITH THEIR FAMILIES 5. PALESTINIAN ABU MAHMOUD ZARANDAH SPEAKING TO REPORTER AFTER REUNITING WITH FAMILY 6. PALESTINIANS REUNITING WITH THEIR FAMILIES 7. PALESTINIAN ISSAM ABID SPEAKING TO REPORTER 8. PALESTINIANS REUNITING WITH THEIR FAMILIES GAZA, PALESTINE - FEBRUARY 27, 2026:A new group of Palestinians returned to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Border Crossing under tight Israeli restrictions, arriving in the southern city of Khan Younis, where emotional reunions unfolded at Nasser Hospital. Many broke into tears as they embraced relatives for the first time in years. Families separated for years embraced outside Nasser Hospital, many weeping and praying as they reunited. Palestinians returning with the 20th convoy said that despite the hardships, reaching home again brought profound relief. The Gaza media office said last week that only 29% compliance was recorded in the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza amid strict Israeli restrictions. In a statement, the office said that between Feb. 2 and Feb. 15, only 811 travelers were able to cross the Rafah crossing in both directions out of a total of 2,800 people expected to travel. Egyptian and Israeli media had previously reported that about 50 Palestinians were expected to cross daily into Gaza and a similar number into Egypt, including patients and their companions, but the office said this was not fully implemented. Palestinian estimates in Gaza indicate that around 22,000 wounded and sick people require travel outside the enclave for medical treatment amid the collapse of the health sector. Semi-official figures also show that about 80,000 Palestinians have registered to return to Gaza, reflecting continued rejection of displacement despite widespread destruction. A US-backed ceasefire agreement has been in place in Gaza since Oct. 10, halting Israel’s two-year genocide that has killed more than 72,000 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 171,000 others since October 2023. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have committed hundreds of violations through shelling and gunfire, killing 603 Palestinians and injuring 1,618 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.