Palestinians Return to Northern Gaza as Ceasefire Holds; Hamas Confirms Deaths of Eight Hostages

 Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians surged into Gaza’s most devastated areas on Monday after Israel reopened access to the north for the first time since the early weeks of its war with Hamas—a stark reversal of their mass displacement 15 months earlier.

As the fragile ceasefire extended into its second week, Hamas informed Israel that eight of the hostages expected to be released in the first phase of the deal were deceased.

Jubilant crowds, including families carrying babies or pushing wheelchairs, made their way along the coastal road throughout the day and into the night, bringing bedrolls, water bottles, and other essentials. Some masked Hamas fighters, armed and defiant, flashed victory signs, while Israeli tanks monitored the scene from a nearby hill. The United Nations reported that more than 200,000 people had moved northward by Monday morning alone.

Many Palestinians, having endured harsh conditions in overcrowded tent camps and repurposed schools, were eager to return home despite the likelihood that their houses were damaged or destroyed. There had been growing fears that Israel would make their displacement permanent.

Yasmin Abu Amshah, a mother of three, said she walked nearly four miles (6 kilometers) to reach her partially damaged but livable home in Gaza City, where she reunited with her younger sister after more than a year apart.

“It was a long journey, but a joyful one,” she said.

For many, returning home symbolized resilience in the face of Israel’s military offensive, which was launched in response to Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Their return also served as a rejection of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Palestinians be resettled in Egypt and Jordan—an idea both countries have firmly opposed.

For the families of hostages, the uncertainty surrounding their loved ones' fate has been agonizing. Many have pressured the Israeli government to negotiate their release, fearing that time is running out.

Before Monday’s announcement, Israel estimated that at least 35 of the approximately 90 hostages still held in Gaza since the October 7 attack had died.

Government spokesman David Mencer told reporters that Hamas provided a list overnight detailing the status of the 33 hostages set for release in the ceasefire's first phase. The list confirmed that eight of them were deceased.

Their families have been notified, Mencer said, noting that the information aligned with Israeli intelligence assessments.