In a statement, Hamas said the return of the displaced people once again demonstrates "the failure of the occupation to achieve its aggressive goals of displacing our people and breaking their steadfast will."

The Palestinian movement added that the scenes filled with the joy of return, love for the land, and steadfastness send a message to those betting on breaking the will of the Palestinian people and displacing them from their land.

These scenes reaffirm "their greatness and steadfastness on their land," it stated.

Hamas leader Izzat Al-Rishq said: "Congratulations to our people in Gaza on this blessed return. This is a great day, and the scene of the displaced returning to the north shatters all the dreams and illusions of the occupation to displace our Palestinian people."

Meanwhile, the Islamic Jihad Movement said: "In an epic scene, hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals are returning to northern Gaza where Zionist crimes turned into rubble."

It added that the return of the displaced is a response to all those dreaming of displacing Palestinian people following the resolution of the issue of Israeli captive Erbil Yehuda.

Thousands of Palestinians began to return to the heavily destroyed north of the Gaza Strip for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month Israeli war under a fragile ceasefire sealed on 19 January.

Palestinians began returning on foot via Al-Rashid Street at 7:00am (local time).

According to Al Jazeera, the return to northern Gaza via Salah Al-Din Street will start at 9:00am (local time) and will be limited to vehicles and cars, not on foot.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that Israeli army forces have begun withdrawing from the Netzarim corridor, which separates the southern and northern parts of the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army established the Netzarim corridor at the start of its ground operation in Gaza on 27 October 2023.

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