Throughout the war, the Israeli military had barred Palestinians from returning to the north by severing Gaza along the Netzarim corridor, a belt that runs east to west across the strip where troops cleared out the Palestinian population and set up bases.

Israel and Lebanon are in talks through mediators to extend the ceasefire between Israel and Hizbollah by 30 days when it expires on Sunday, according to people familiar with the discussions. The truce,

The Israeli government said on Thursday a ceasefire deal with the Iran-backed group Hezbollah was not being implemented fast enough, days before Israel is meant to complete a withdrawal of its forces from southern Lebanon under the terms of the deal.