Deir-al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Jan 27: On Monday, Israel permitted Palestinians to return to the severely devastated northern Gaza Strip for the first time since the conflict with Hamas began 15 months ago, amidst a fragile ceasefire.
Thousands of individuals made their way north after enduring several days of waiting to cross. Associated Press journalists observed people crossing through the designated Netzarim corridor shortly after 7 a.m., coinciding with the scheduled opening of the checkpoints.
The opening had been postponed for two days due to a disagreement between Hamas and Israel, which claimed that the militant group had altered the sequence of hostages released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The ceasefire aims to bring an end to the ongoing deadly and destructive war between Israel and Hamas, while securing the release of numerous hostages captured during the militants’ assault on October 7, 2023, which instigated the conflict.
In the war’s early days, Israel mandated a mass evacuation from the north and subsequently sealed it off after deploying ground troops. Approximately one million people were displaced southward in October 2023, with many still awaiting the opportunity to return. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands remained in the north, which experienced some of the most intense fighting and devastating destruction throughout the conflict. (Agencies)
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