Gaza Strip - January 27, 2025 Tens of thousands of Palestinians started to return to their homes in the northern part of the devastated Gaza Strip on Monday after 15 months of forced displacement. The return followed an announcement by Qatar on Sunday evening that Hamas and Israel had reached an agreement to release Israeli hostage Arbel Yehud and two others by Friday. Hamas is expected to release three additional hostages on Saturday. Under the Israel-Hamas agreement, Israel has allowed the displaced Palestinians to return to the northern Gaza Strip starting Monday morning. Drone footage captured by the China Media Group showed that a long stretch of crowd resembles a huge, slow moving wave making its way up Gaza's coast, with most traveling on foot and carrying what little belongings they have left on their backs. It also showed that vehicles were inching forward for kilometers toward the neighborhoods now reduced to rubbles. Until Monday, they had spent many months exiled in makeshift refugee camps after Israeli forces ordered large-scale evacuations. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early on Monday "Hamas has conceded and agreed to proceed with an additional phase of hostage releases, scheduled for next Thursday following firm and determined negotiations." The statement outlined that this phase will involve the release of Yehud, a soldier called Agam Berger, and another hostage. Additionally, three more hostages are set to be freed on Saturday as part of the agreement. Israel has also received from Hamas a list detailing the conditions and status of all the hostages to be released in the initial phase of the deal. Shotlist: Gaza Strip - Jan 27, 2025: 1. Aerial shots of displaced Palestinians heading back home; 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Gaza resident (name not given) (ending with shot 3): "It's an indescribable feeling. Thank God we can return to our homeland, return to the Jabalia refugee camp in the north. Over the past more than ten months, we've endured all kinds of hardships, constantly moving through places like Rafah, Nuseirat, Khan Yunis and Deir al-Balah. Each place held our stories and each story was filled with sorrow and suffering."; 3. Various of displaced Palestinians heading home; 4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Gaza resident (name not given): "I previously escaped from the north to the south. Now, returning from the south to the north feels just like fleeing again. My house has been destroyed, and the homes of my relatives have been completely destroyed as well. I've been carrying a tent, traveling from south to north. There’s no other place to take shelter. So, I set up the tent wherever I can, on the streets along the way."; 5. Various of displaced Palestinians on road. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]