After months of war, displaced Palestinians began returning to northern Gaza on Monday following a deal between Israel and Hamas for the release of six hostages. This breakthrough helped sustain a fragile ceasefire and offered hope for the region’s recovery. Israel had initially restricted the return, accusing Hamas of breaching the ceasefire terms, but following the agreement, crossing points were opened.
As soon as the news spread, tens of thousands of Gazans rushed home, carrying what belongings they could. Many expressed relief at returning, although some, like Ibrahim Abu Hassera, were unsure of the state of their homes. Ghada, a mother of five, shared her joy despite the delays, saying, “At least we are going back home. Now I can say war is over.”
The return had been delayed due to accusations that Hamas failed to release a hostage, but the deal resumed after Qatari mediators announced that hostages would be freed in exchange for reopening crossings.
The deal allows for the return of about 650,000 Palestinians to the northern Gaza Strip, which has been heavily damaged by the ongoing conflict. The hostilities began in October 2023 with Hamas’s attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 47,000 Palestinians.