Displaced Palestinians begin returning to northern Gaza

Tens of thousands of Palestinians began returning to their homes in norther Gaza on Monday after 15 months of displacement. The return follows an announcement by Qatar on Sunday evening that Hamas and Israel had reached an agreement to release Israeli hostage Arbel Yehud and two others by Friday.

Additionally, three more hostages are set to be freed on Saturday as part of the agreement. Israel has also received from Hamas a list detailing the conditions and status of all hostages to be released in the initial phase of the deal.  

Until Monday, Palestinians had spent many months exiled in makeshift refugee camps after Israeli forces ordered large-scale evacuations.