Israeli troops have withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor - a military zone cutting off the north of the Gaza Strip from the south. Hundreds of Palestinians in cars and on carts laden with mattresses and other goods began returning to northern Gaza following the pull-out - often to scenes of utter destruction.

Israeli forces withdrew from a key Gaza corridor on Sunday, Israeli officials and Hamas said, part of Israel’s commitments under a tenuous ceasefire deal with Hamas that is moving ahead but faces a major test over whether the sides can negotiate its planned extension.

The Israeli military has withdrawn from an area of Gaza known as the Netzarim corridor that bisects the enclave, Hamas said on Sunday, a move that was expected under the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian militant group.

Israel pulled troops and tanks out of a belt of land in the Gaza Strip after recovering three more hostages as part of a staggered ceasefire with Hamas, though prospects of a de-facto end to the war remain unclear.