Following a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement with Hamas, thousands of Palestinians returned to northern Gaza on Monday.

Beginning at 7 a.m. local time, Palestinians were permitted to cross on foot through a coastal route traversing a military zone, bypassing inspections. A vehicular checkpoint subsequently opened on Gaza’s main highway, causing a two-mile traffic jam.

Israel’s military issued a warning, stating that any transfer of militants or weapons through these routes would be a breach of the agreement, urging Palestinians not to cooperate with any terrorist entity attempting to move such materials, according to Reuters.

Hamas described the return as a victory for its people and a defeat for Israel’s occupation and relocation plans, according to the Associated Press.

Yasmin Abu Amshah, a mother of three, recounted to the AP her four-mile walk home to Gaza City, where she reunited with her younger sister after over a year’s separation. “It was a long trip, but a happy one,” she said. “The most important thing is that we returned.”

Approximately one million people had fled to southern Gaza in October 2023, while hundreds of thousands remained in the north, which experienced intense fighting. Around 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, according to the news agency.

Israel had delayed the crossing’s opening, initially scheduled for the weekend, citing the unreleased civilian hostage, Arbel Yehoud. Israel stated she should have been released before four female soldiers, freed on Saturday.

Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement by delaying the crossing’s opening.

Qatar, a key mediator, announced early Monday that an agreement had been reached for Yehoud’s release, along with two other hostages.

Hamas also provided information regarding hostages to be released during the ceasefire’s six-week initial phase.

This phase involves Hamas releasing 33 hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Seven hostages have been released so far, in exchange for over 300 prisoners. Shiri Bibas and her children, Ariel and Kfir, were expected to be released over the weekend but were not.

Shiri’s husband, Yarden Bibas, remains among the hostages.