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Israel begins allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza for the first time in over a year

Byline: By Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy And Joseph Krauss

January 26 2025 10:01 PM

Israel begins allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza for the first time in over a year | iNFOnews.ca — Displaced Palestinians gather with their belongings near a roadblock on the al Rashid Street, as they wait to return to their homes in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, days after the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas came into effect. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Original Publication Date: January 26, 2025 10:01PM

Publication Updated: April 10, 2025 8:18PM

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel has begun allowing Palestinians to return to the heavily destroyed north of the Gaza Strip for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas, in accordance with a fragile ceasefire.

Thousands of Palestinians headed north on Monday after waiting for days to cross. Associated Press reporters saw people crossing the so-called Netzarim corridor shortly after 7 a.m.

The opening was delayed over a dispute between Hamas and Israel, which said the militant group had changed the order of the hostages it released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Israel begins allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza for the first time in over a year | iNFOnews.ca — Displaced Palestinians gather with their belongings near a roadblock as they wait to return to their homes in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, days after the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas came into effect. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Israel begins allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza for the first time in over a year | iNFOnews.ca — Displaced children sleep near a roadblock as they wait to return to their homes in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, days after the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas came into effect. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Israel begins allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza for the first time in over a year | iNFOnews.ca — Displaced Palestinians warm themselves by a fire as they wait to return to their homes in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, days after the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas came into effect. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Israel begins allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza for the first time in over a year | iNFOnews.ca — Displaced Palestinians warm themselves by a fire as they wait to return to their homes in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, days after the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas came into effect. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Israel begins allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza for the first time in over a year | iNFOnews.ca — An aerial photograph taken by a drone shows displaced Palestinians gathering with their belongings near a roadblock on the al Rashid Street, as they wait to return to their homes in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, days after the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas came into effect. (AP Photo/Mohammad Abu Samra)

Israel begins allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza for the first time in over a year | iNFOnews.ca — An aerial photograph taken by a drone shows displaced Palestinians gathering with their belongings near a roadblock on the al Rashid Street, as they wait to return to their homes in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, days after the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas came into effect. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

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Magdy reported from Cairo and Krauss from Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

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By Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy And Joseph Krauss
The Associated Press

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