Thousands of Palestinians return to northern Gaza following an agreement for the release of a civilian hostage.

Summary

Thousands of Palestinians are returning to northern Gaza after Israel and Hamas reached an agreement to release six hostages this week.

The return was initially planned for Saturday to areas north of the Netzarim Corridor, a region under Israeli control.

However, the process was delayed due to a dispute over an Israeli civilian hostage, Arbel Yehud.

While Hamas released four soldiers on Saturday, Yehud, along with two other hostages, remained captive, prompting Israel to accuse Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Yehud and two other hostages are now expected to be released on Thursday, with three additional hostages scheduled for release on Saturday.

"We don't know what we will see except the wounds," one Gazan returning home told reporter Alice Cuddy.