More than 300,000 Palestinians have reached northern Gaza, a day after Israel barred them from returning to their homes. Tel Aviv says Hamas' refusal to release one of six hostages as agreed in the first phase led to its decision to halt the passage of residents to the north.

Israel let tens of thousands of Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas​, under terms of a fragile ceasefire​.

Israel’s military has carried out fresh airstrikes on Gaza, killing two Palestinians, including a child, despite the ceasefire agreement signed with Hamas earlier this month. Five-year-old Nadia Mohammed al-Amoudi was killed and three others wounded Monday when the Israeli army shelled a horse cart near the Nuseirat refugee camp.