Following a fragile ceasefire agreement, tens of thousands of Palestinians made their way back to the most heavily destroyed part of the Gaza Strip on Monday as Israel lifted its closure of the north for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas.
Massive crowds of people carrying their belongings were seen walking along a main road next to the coast, marking a significant reversal from the mass exodus that occurred at the beginning of the conflict. Many Palestinians, who had been living in tent camps and makeshift shelters for over a year, were eager to return to their homes despite the likelihood of damage or destruction.
