Impressive are the images of the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have been returning to their homes since Monday morning. in northern Gaza after Israeli permission as an agreement was reached with Hamas that will allow the release within the week of additional hostages.

As seen in photos and videos posted by Palestinian social media accounts, Palestinians head north on Gaza’s Rasheed Street to return to the north of the Strip.

The IDF has said it will allow Gazans to start moving into the Netzarim Corridor from 7am.

“The passage of Palestinian displaced persons began along the Ar Rashid road, through the western part of the Netsarim checkpoint to Gaza City and to the northern part” of the enclave, the official said.

The Hamas interior ministry in the Gaza Strip confirmed to AFP that displaced Palestinians had begun to return to northern Gaza, following progress in negotiations with Israel last night.

“The crossing of displaced Palestinians has begun along the Al-Rashid road through the western part of the Netzarim checkpoint to Gaza City and the northern part” of the Gaza Strip, the official said.

Hamas will hand over Arbel Yehud, Agam Berger and one more man

After 48 hours of intense negotiations behind the scenes, an agreement was finally reached between Israel and Hamas on the next steps in the hostage deal on Sunday night.

Qatar’s statement early Monday said Hamas will deliver the hostage, Arbel Yehudalong with two other hostages before Friday. And on Monday, Israeli authorities will allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza.

Hamas will hand over 29-year-old Arbel Yehud, IDF soldier Agham Berger and an additional male hostage on Thursday, Netanyahu’s office confirmed. The office also confirmed that it had received the list that Hamas had provided mediators with all the required information on the remaining hostages to be released in the first phase of the deal, which was originally due to be provided last week.

Palestinians

Qatar’s ministry said Hamas would hand over three more hostages on Saturday under the ceasefire agreement. In return, Israel will allow displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza starting Monday morning. Israel justified its refusal to let them pass by citing that 27-year-old civilian Arbel Yehud had not been released and that it had not received a list of the status of the hostages to be released. But last night, the services of Mr. Netanyahu announced that there had finally been progress in the indirect negotiations.

According to the ceasefire agreement, the IDF is at this stage to “fully withdraw” eastward from Rasheed Street to the coast and dismantle all military sites and installations in the area.

Palestinians

Screams

At news that Palestinians could begin moving north early Monday, displaced families erupted in cheers in shelters and camps.

“We don’t sleep, I have everything packed and ready to go at the first light of day,” said Ganda, a mother of five. “At least we are coming home, now I can say the war is over and I hope it will remain calm,” he told Reuters.

Thousands of Palestinians had gathered at Israeli roadblocks over the past two days, waiting to move north through the Netzarim Corridor that bisects the area, and local health officials on Sunday said Israeli forces fired into the crowd, killing two people and wounding nine.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has suggested that most of Gaza’s population be at least temporarily resettled elsewhere, including in Egypt and Jordan. Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinians rejected it, amid fears that Israel may never allow the refugees to return.