Displaced Palestinian families began returning home to northern Gaza on Monday morning (January 27) in cars, trucks and on rickshaws that were overloaded with mattresses, food, and the tents that served as shelters for over a year for those in the central and southern areas of the enclave.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a post on X on Sunday (January 26) that Palestinians would be allowed to return home starting Monday morning.
READ: Israel says Gazans can return home as more hostage releases agreed
This followed Qatar’s announcement on Sunday that a deal had been reached for the Palestinian militant group Hamas to hand over female Israeli hostage Arbel Yehud and two other hostages before Friday (January 31).
Tens of thousands of Palestinians have waited for two days at roadblocks to return to their homes in northern Gaza, voicing frustration after Israel accused Hamas of breaching a ceasefire agreement and refused to open crossing points.
(Production: Hussam al-Masri, Ariel Wee)