200,000 Palestinians have returned to north Gaza since the ceasefire was announced earlier on Friday, according to Gaza's civil defence agency.
The announcement comes after the Israeli military said Friday that the ceasefire agreement with Hamas came into effect at noon local time, and that troops were withdrawing to the agreed-upon deployment lines.
The announcement came after Palestinians reported heavy shelling Friday morning in northern Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said early Friday that Israel’s Cabinet approved President Donald Trump’s plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of all remaining hostages and of Palestinian prisoners.
The statement said the Cabinet approved the “outline” of a deal to release the hostages, without mentioning other aspects of the plan that are more controversial.
While the approval marks a key step toward ending a devastating two-year war, the broader ceasefire plan includes many unanswered questions, including whether and how Hamas will disarm and who will govern Gaza.
Large crowds of people who had gathered in Wadi Gaza in central Gaza in the morning started walking north after the military’s announcement that a ceasefire had taken effect at noon local time.
The spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said that Palestinians can now return to northern Gaza by two roads, though he warned against approaching areas in northern Gaza including Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya, Al-Shujaiyya, and areas where troops are still present.
Elsewhere in southern Gaza, Adraee warned Palestinians against approaching the Rafah crossing the philadelphi corridor and all areas where troops are present in Khan Younis.
He spoke Friday as the Israeli military said the ceasefire with Hamas has taken effect.