The Hamas-run government in the Gaza Strip said more than 300,000 people displaced by the Israel-Hamas war returned Monday to northern Gaza after Israel opened checkpoints and allowed people back into the area.
The Palestinians, mostly on foot, lugged what personal belongings they could manage as they headed back to see whether their one-time homes were still standing after they were forced to leave in the early stages of the war. But much of the region has been leveled during the Israeli bombardment targeting Hamas militants and buildings booby-trapped by Hamas.
About a million people were ordered out of northern Gaza as the Israeli offensive began in October 2023. The military, until now, had prevented their return.
The Palestinians’ return to Gaza City comes in the early stages of a six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that has resulted in the release of seven hostages held in Gaza, the freeing of 300 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Israeli officials said Monday that Hamas had provided information about the rest of the hostages due to be released in the first stage of the cease-fire, including that eight of those still being held are dead.
The next round of hostage releases is due to take place later this week.
U.S. President Donald Trump over the weekend said he wants Jordan and Egypt to take in more displaced Palestinians as part of an effort to “clean out” Gaza. But the two countries rejected the suggestion, saying the only way forward was creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
The U.S. has long supported Palestinian statehood, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has balked at the idea.
The war in Gaza started with the shock Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 250 hostages. Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza has killed at least 47,300 people, most of them women and children, according to health officials. The Israeli military said the death toll includes 17,000 militants.
Hamas is believed to be holding about 60 hostages and the remains of about 30 others, with the ceasefire requiring them to release 33 during the truce in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel.
Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
