In pictures: Emotional scenes as Palestinians head home to northern Gaza amid ceasefire

On Monday, tens of thousands of Palestinians thronged the main roads in northern Gaza, jubilantly returning to their homes. They had been living in temporary shelters for months, but also worried about what remained of their homes amid the bombed-out ruins. This return was made possible after being delayed over the weekend, following Hamas' agreement to hand over three Israeli hostages later this week, while Israeli forces also began withdrawing from the main corridor in the Gaza Strip under a ceasefire agreement reached for the 15-month war.

In Israel, the families of the hostages anxiously awaited news of their loved ones' fate. Along a road on Gaza's Mediterranean coast, large crowds walked north, some carrying babies, others with packages on their shoulders. A Palestinian mother, Umm Mohammed Ali, said, "It feels like I have been reborn, we have achieved victory again." She was also part of the miles-long line of people slowly moving along the coastal highway.

Eyewitnesses reported that the first residents arrived in Gaza City in the early morning after the first crossing point in central Gaza opened at 7 a.m. local time. About three hours later, another crossing point opened, allowing vehicles to pass. Children wearing thick coats and backpacks walked hand-in-hand, men pushed elderly people in wheelchairs, families took photos, and Hamas-employed officials in red vests guided them along the way. During the war, approximately 650,000 Palestinians were displaced from northern Gaza. According to Israeli statistics, the war was triggered by Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 people being taken hostage.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 47,000 Palestinians have since died in Israeli attacks on Gaza. Much of Gaza is now in ruins. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office stated that people returning to the north need at least 135,000 tents and shelters as they try to rebuild their lives in the ruined landscape of what were once their homes. Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, residents of northern Gaza were originally scheduled to return over the weekend. However, Israel stated that Hamas violated the agreement by failing to release civilian female hostage Abel Yehud and kept its troops in the Netzarim corridor that runs across the Gaza Strip, south of Gaza City.

Late Sunday, Qatari mediators resolved the dispute after Hamas agreed to release Ms. Yehud, as well as female soldier Agam Berger and another hostage, on Thursday, two days ahead of the originally scheduled release of three other hostages on Saturday. Subsequently, Israel approved the return of people to northern Gaza starting Monday morning. During the war, these Palestinians returning home were moved to the south under Israeli orders. Hamas also provided mediators with a list of all hostages to be released during the first six-week phase of the ceasefire agreement. A Hamas official told Reuters that 25 of the 33 hostages scheduled for release in the first phase are still alive. The number of 25 includes 7 hostages released since the truce began on January 19. Israel confirmed Hamas’ figures. An Israeli government spokesperson said that 25 hostages were alive, but 8 were killed by Hamas.