Thousands of Palestinians headed north after waiting for days to cross. Associated Press reporters saw people crossing the so-called Netzarim corridor shortly after 7 a.m. when the checkpoints were scheduled to open.
The opening was delayed for two days over a dispute between Hamas and Israel, which said the terrorist group had changed the order of the hostages it released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The ceasefire is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas and securing the release of dozens of hostages who were captured in the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre of more than 1200 Israeli men, women and children.
Meanwhile, an Israeli military doctor who has treated the returning hostages released by Hamas in recent days says they are in poor physical condition and face a lengthy recovery process.
Dr. Ami Benov told reporters on Monday that the seven young women were suffering from “mild starvation” and vitamin deficiencies. He says all of them suffered injuries in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack and that the medical care they received was poor.
“They’re not in a good shape. They’re not good physically,” he said.
Benov says their mental states are “very complicated.” He says the women were held in tunnels and deprived of sunlight for at least eight months.
He says one of the challenges will be the “grounding” process in which they gradually understand they have regained control over such decisions as what to eat, what to wear and where and when to meet their families.
“We feel obligated to give them the option to do whatever they feel right,” he said. But he said everything is being done in “very small steps.”
