Following a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas, thousands of Palestinians have begun returning to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli blockade was lifted early Monday, allowing passage through a designated coastal route and later, a main highway checkpoint.
Drone footage captured the large-scale return, a moment Hamas declared a "victory" and a testament to the resilience of the Palestinian people. One returnee, Yasmin Abu Amshah, recounted her long but joyful journey back to her damaged home, highlighting the emotional reunion with family after over a year of separation.
This return marks a significant shift for nearly a million people displaced to southern Gaza since October 2023, and hundreds of thousands who remained in the war-torn north. The region suffered extensive damage during the 15-month conflict. The return process, initially scheduled for the weekend, was delayed due to ongoing hostage negotiations. The release of civilian hostage Arbel Yehoud was a key condition set by Israel for the crossing to open. Qatar played a crucial mediation role in securing Yehoud's release along with two other hostages, paving the way for the return to commence.
As part of the broader ceasefire agreement, Hamas is expected to release a total of 33 hostages in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Seven hostages have been released thus far, with more anticipated in the coming weeks.
