Thousands Return After Israel Lifts Gaza Block

Tens of thousands of Palestinians streamed into Gaza's most heavily destroyed area on Monday under a fragile ceasefire after Israel opened the north for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas.

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Israel, meanwhile, announced that eight of the hostages to be freed in the weeks ahead are dead.

Massive crowds of Palestinians, some holding babies or pushing wheelchairs, walked with their belongings along a seaside road in a dramatic reversal of the mass exodus from the north that many had feared Israel would make permanent.