Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians return to north Gaza as Israel opens checkpoints

People begin long walk at dawn to what remains of their homes after 24-hour delay over release of Israeli hostage

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians flooded back into northern Gaza on Monday after Israel opened military checkpoints that had divided the strip for more than a year, ending a forced exile from homes and loved ones that many feared could become permanent.

In the dawn light, crowds that had waited by the road overnight began the long walk back to their homes and business - or what remained of them - as soon as the crossing opened.