More than 300,000 Palestinians are returning to northern Gaza for the first time in over a year.
The office for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote in a post on X on Sunday that Israel would allow the displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza starting on Monday morning.
“After conducting firm and determined negotiations led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, Hamas has backed down and will carry out another round of hostage releases this Thursday… As part of these agreements, Israel will allow Gazans to cross into the northern Gaza Strip starting tomorrow morning.”
The crowds are now crossing the Netzarim Corridor, with many returning to homes that are destroyed.
An official from Gaza’s Government Media Office told Al Jazeera that at least 120,000 tents would be needed to shelter those returning to the north.
At least two people have died of exhaustion and dehydration making the journey and in central Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, a child was killed and three others wounded after Israeli forces opened fire on a horse-drawn cart, saying it “posed a threat” to troops.