Israel on Monday permitted Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, heavily devastated during the early stages of the war, after reaching an agreement for Hamas to release six hostages this week.
Television footage showed large crowds making their way back, and witnesses reported that the first residents arrived in Gaza City early in the morning after the central Gaza crossing opened at 7am. (0500 GMT). A second crossing was scheduled to open at 9am, Reuters reported.
As news of the crossings spread, displaced families erupted in cheers at shelters and camps.
“I haven’t slept. I’ve packed everything and am ready to leave at the first light,” said Ghada, a mother of five. “At least we’re going home. Now I can say the war is over, and I hope the calm lasts,” she told Reuters via a messaging app.
Initially, residents of northern Gaza were expected to return over the weekend under a ceasefire deal, but Israel accused Hamas of breaking the agreement by not releasing civilian hostage Yehud and kept the crossings closed.
On Sunday night, Qatari mediators announced that Hamas had agreed to release Yehud and two other hostages by Friday, leading Israel to allow displaced Palestinians to return starting Monday morning. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the release of Yehud, soldier Agam Berger, and one additional hostage, adding on social media that displaced Gaza residents would be allowed to return.
“The prime minister reiterates that Israel will not tolerate any breaches of the agreement. We will continue efforts to bring back all our hostages, both living and deceased,” a statement from his office said.
Following the announcement, Hamas stated it had provided mediators with the necessary details about the hostages to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
The deal, facilitated by Qatari and Egyptian mediators, enables around 650,000 displaced Palestinians from central and southern Gaza to return to the north, much of which has been destroyed by Israel’s 15-month aerial and ground offensive. The Gaza health ministry reports over 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.
Hamas captured around 250 hostages during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli fatalities, according to official figures. This triggered the latest escalation in the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is currently in a fragile ceasefire.
For two days, tens of thousands of Palestinians waited at roadblocks to return to their northern Gaza homes, expressing frustration as Israel delayed opening the crossings, accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire.
The Israeli military issued a statement confirming residents could return on foot via the coastal road at 0500 GMT and by vehicles on the eastern Salahudeen road at 0700 GMT. However, it warned against approaching military positions.
“Moving militants or weapons through these routes into northern Gaza will be considered a violation of the agreement. Do not cooperate with any terrorist entities attempting to exploit these routes to transport weapons or prohibited materials,” the military stated.
