smiles now, but the children of the al—masri family have survived horrors.is cousin's mum and sisters. after they were rescued, like thousands of children in war—torn gaza, they were alone. we followed their difficult journey to be reunited with their grandma. translation: it's indescribable howjoyful i am, but my joy - is mixed with sadness. they came back without their parents. three months into what israel says is a new offensive to target hamas, the very north of gaza is now in ruins. the bereaved cousins fled with distant relatives who were filmed for us, saying a painful farewell. staff from the un children's agency had israeli permission to take the al—masri children south. covering a short distance involves a long drive and a labourious process, which unicef has managed in just a few dozen cases. those children who are on their own, or who are with adults that aren't related to them, or even with extended family are even more vulnerable than than other children, which is why we have made these reunifications a priority. aunts and uncles celebrate the

. >> for many, like eyad al-masri, their journey began in southern gaza, taking down their. >> tents.ey hope forever. >> i'm taking these. >> four bags and going back to my house, iyad says. i don't know if it is still standing or not, but i'm going back to beit hanoun. >> people quickly. >> crowd around the few busses heading north. babies and belongings hoisted with urgency. others carry what they can, taking their chances on. >> foot. >> trudging through this uneven coastal road, young and old alike are determined to push past. fatigue and return. home for the first of many. that moment came shortly after 9 a.m. crossing an abandoned israeli checkpoint where masked hamas militants now stand. >> watch israel agreed to open the road to northern gaza only after resolving a two day dispute with hamas over the fate of an israeli hostage, arbel yehoud hamas, now set to release her alongside the captive israeli soldier. >> agam berger and a third hostage on thursday back in gaza. this is what most are returning to bombed out buildings and heaps of rubble now line the streets, even amid th