Displaced Palestinians return to northern Gaza – in pictures

Under the terms of the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, Israeli forces pulled back from the two main highways leading north through the Netzarim corridor to allow Palestinians to return. On Salaheddin Street, the main road through central Gaza, cars and trucks heading north were piled with mattresses and other belongings

Families gather to return to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip

Palestinians wait to be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza

An aerial view of Palestinians waiting at a point close to the Netzarim corridor on al-Rashid Street

More than 376,000 Palestinians displaced by the war between Israel and Hamas have returned to northern Gaza, the UN’s humanitarian body Ocha said on Tuesday

A boy prays as people walk along Gaza’s coastal al-Rashid Street to cross the Netzarim corridor from southern Gaza

Tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced by Israeli forces return home along al-Rashid Street

Displaced Palestinians cross the Netzarim corridor

Those returning crossed through the Netzarim corridor, a swath of land bisecting the Gaza Strip that Israeli forces turned into a military zone to seal off the north

Palestinians make their way north

Throughout the war, Israel repeatedly ordered civilians to evacuate the north and barred their return. Under the ceasefire’s terms, Israeli troops pulled back from the main routes and are eventually to pull out completely from the corridor

Displaced people walk toward Gaza City

Palestinians crossing the Netzarim corridor towards Gaza City

Many homes in Gaza have been destroyed in more than 15 months of Israeli bombardment and a ground offensive against Hamas that levelled large parts of Gaza City and the surrounding north

Hala Sleem holds a cat as she makes her way to her home in northern Gaza

Tens of thousands of Palestinians return to their lands from the south to the north via Salaheddin Street

Palestinians used every form of transport – or none – to make their way home

Salaheddin Street in Nuseirat is packed with people and vehicles moving north

Palestinians try to survive in tents they set up among the debris of their demolished homes at Jabalia refugee camp

A family sets up a makeshift shelter among the debris of their demolished home in the Tel al-Hawa area in Gaza City