A kilometer-long crowd of people moves on foot along the sea. Some carry mattresses and water cans, others carry children who can no longer walk. In trash bags and reused flour sacks lie the remaining belongings.
Shortly after 7 am on Monday morning, local time, people began crossing the so-called Netzarim corridor, which separates southern Gaza from northern. It is the first time since the war's first weeks that Gazans fleeing have been allowed to return to the heavily damaged area – and can be reunited with loved ones who stayed in the north.
It was a long journey, but a happy one. The most important thing is that we have returned, says three-child mother Yasmin Abu Amshah to the AP news agency.
In Gaza City, she found her home damaged but habitable – and saw her little sister for the first time in over a year.
On Monday evening, the Hamas government in Gaza announced that more than 300,000 Palestinians who had been forcibly displaced had returned to northern Gaza, according to AFP.
Crying and Singing
Ismail Abu Matter and his family had waited for three days before they were allowed to cross the corridor on Monday morning. For AP, he describes jubilant scenes on the other side. People separated by the war sing and cry as they are reunited.
It's a joy to return. We thought we would never come home, like our ancestors, says Abu Matter, whose family was among the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were forced to leave present-day Israel at the end of the 1940s.
The return has been delayed due to a dispute between Hamas and Israel regarding the order in which hostages would be released.
More Hostages Released
Late on Sunday, it was announced that the extremist movement Hamas would release six hostages this week, with half on Thursday: Arbel Yehoud and Agam Berger, as well as a third unnamed person.
Then, the remaining three will be released on Saturday, according to Israeli media. In return, Palestinian refugees are allowed to return to northern Gaza.
Terror-listed Hamas, which rules in Gaza, describes the return as "a victory against Israel's plans for the forced displacement of Palestinians", according to AFP.
