Palestinians are streaming back to northern Gaza on foot. Israel allowed displaced Gazans to begin crossing a military zone that bisects the enclave. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Wall Street Journal.
The decision came after a deadlock over hostage releases was broken. Israeli authorities had previously kept the crossing closed due to disagreements over the implementation of the hostage release agreement.
Among those moving north are women, children, and the elderly. Many of them had been sheltering in displacement camps since the start of the war.
The military zone divides the Gaza Strip into two parts, and crossing it involves security checks. The Israeli military said it had deployed additional forces to secure the crossing.
International organizations assess the step as positive for improving the humanitarian situation. However, they warn that the destruction of infrastructure in northern Gaza will complicate the return of residents.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, thousands of people have been killed in the enclave since the war began. The UN estimates that about 80 percent of Gaza's population has been forced to leave their homes.
Negotiations on hostage releases continue with mediation by Egypt and Qatar. The next phases of the agreement envisage the release of additional hostages and an increase in the volume of humanitarian aid.