200,000 displaced Palestinians walk home to northern Gaza after 15 months of war

Amna Nawaz:

The day's other headlines start in the Middle East. Israel allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to Northern Gaza today after a two-day delay. Gazans were ordered to move south early in the war, stoking fears they'd never be allowed to return home.

In Gaza today, rare scenes of glee, 7-year-old Retal Subuh excited to return home after 15 months of war.

Retal Subuh, Gaza City Resident (through interpreter):

I'm happy that I get to go back home to Gaza City and back to school.

Amna Nawaz:

Some 200,000 Palestinians made the trek north today by foot, carriage and car to reunite with their homes and their loved ones. That includes Mahoud (ph) and Ibrahim Al-Atut (ph), twins separated for more than a year as the fighting destroyed everything around them.

The return is bittersweet. North Gaza lies in ruins and many heading back today, like Salem Badawi, say their homes are destroyed.

Salem Badawi, Northern Gaza Resident (through interpreter):

We want to go back home. We're tired. We're depressed. But there's no house to go back to. It's charred and burnt down, along with the land and trees around it. We don't know what we're going to do.

Amna Nawaz:

Palestinians were ready to head north on Saturday, but Israel held up their return, saying Hamas violated the cease-fire agreement by not releasing civilian hostage Arbel Yehud over the weekend. Yesterday, Hamas agreed to release Yehud in the next swap.

David Mencer, Spokesperson, Israeli Prime Minister's Office:

The list from Hamas matches Israel's intelligence.

Amna Nawaz:

It all comes as Israel confirmed today that eight of the 33 hostages set to be exchanged in phase one of the cease-fire deal are dead. Israel says the next set of hostages is expected to be released on Thursday.