Thousands of Palestinians are returning to the northern Gaza Strip on Monday morning as part of a deal between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas that went into effect on January 19.
Thousands of people have been walking towards northern Gaza through the coastal Al-Rashid Street since 7 a.m. local time, Anadolu Agency’s correspondent in the field reported.
Palestinian activists posted videos on social media of people chanting and celebrating as they returned to their neighborhoods.
The first six-week phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement came into effect on January 19, halting Israel’s genocidal war that has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded more than 111,000 since October 7, 2023.
Seven Israeli prisoners, including four female soldiers, have so far been released in exchange for 290 Palestinian prisoners since the deal went into effect.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over the war in the enclave, AA writes.
