Thousands of Palestinians, including men, women, children, and the elderly, were met with Israeli fire as they attempted to return to their homes in northern Gaza on Sunday. The incident occurred despite claims that the Israeli military was allowing women and children to move back up.

Video footage captured by a CNN stringer showed families walking along the once-perilous coastal road of Al Rasheed. Some were seen carrying their belongings, while others rode bicycles, donkey carts, and pick-up trucks. Despite the difficult circumstances, many of the Palestinians appeared hopeful, smiling, and snapping photographs as they made their way.

Majd El-Aqqad expressed her desire to go back to Gaza City, stating, "It's enough. We need to go back to our homes and lands. We are tired of displacement... we heard people saying we can go back, but no one official told us. We'll leave it to God."

Videos began circulating online, showcasing the large number of people heading north for the first time in a long while. Some individuals claimed to have heard that the Israeli military was permitting women and children to return, while others mentioned that their relatives had successfully crossed over.

However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) refuted these reports, stating that they were false. "The northern Gaza Strip continues to be an active war zone, and return to the area is not currently permitted," the IDF stated in response to a question from CNN.

Nevertheless, determined individuals like Um Mohammad, an elderly woman, could be seen bearing the weight of heavy bags as they attempted to reach their homes. Um Mohammad tearfully prayed for God's protection, expressing her frustration and anguish at the Israeli displacement.

Malak Abu Nada, a woman from Jabalya, spoke to CNN about the exhaustion felt by the displaced individuals. "We are tired here. We have been displaced for 191 days," she said. These Palestinians had been previously relocated to Rafah, a location that faces potential Israeli offensive, as warned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, resulting in what the UN proclaim as a "humanitarian catastrophe."

The Gaza Ministry of Health reported on Sunday that the toll in the Gaza Strip since October 7 has risen to 33,729 dead and 76,371 injured. These figures, however, cannot be independently verified by CNN.

Heartbreaking scenes of young children added to the misery; Omar Al-Dahdouh, carrying a bag of flour on his shoulder, sobbed as he led his younger sibling while expressing his longing for their home. "I want to go home, I'm tired. My siblings need to live," he said.

Ahmad Ramadan described his attempt to cross to the north, only to be turned away by Israeli soldiers due to being a man. "We heard the road was open to Gaza City, so we thought we'd go. When they saw men with us, they started shooting at us. We are tired and humiliated," Um Awni Al-Jarousha recounted.

Videos captured the desperate scenes as people turned back and retreated to the south, fearful of the sound of drones and planes overhead. The culmination of panic and chaos resulted in some individuals sustaining gunshot wounds. The footage showcased one man carrying another with a head injury, as well as a five-year-old girl named Sally Abu Laila bleeding from her head.

Sabreen, Sally's mother, recounted the traumatic incident. Separated from her husband, who had been turned back by Israeli soldiers, she was left to navigate the journey alone with her four children. The situation quickly spiraled into chaos, with people trampling over each other as gunshots rang out.

"I didn't know my daughter was injured... she is my only girl, and my heart broke," Sabreen lamented, describing the moment she realized Sally had been wounded. Eventually, Sabreen managed to reach Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital, where her daughter remains in intensive care.

Graphic footage captured by CNN showcased Sally crying out in pain, with blood on her body and wounds on her head and arm as doctors provided emergency treatment.

CNN has reached out to the IDF for comment regarding reports of soldiers firing shots at civilians attempting to head north but has not yet received a response. The situation remains tense and uncertain as Palestinians continue to face significant obstacles in their quest to return to their homes in northern Gaza.