Israel is letting thousands of Palestinians return to northern Gaza for the first time since the early weeks of the war with Hamas​, as a fragile ceasefire endures​.

Gaza's Hamas authorities said more than 300,000 people, or almost half of those displaced from the north during the war, had crossed into Gaza City and the north edge of the enclave.

Israel has reportedly lodged a formal protest with negotiators over the disorderly handover of hostages Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Mozes to the Red Cross in Gaza. During the transfer in Khan Younis, the two civilian hostages were forced to navigate a chaotic scene,

The leader of important U.S. ally Egypt on Wednesday rejected President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Egypt take in displaced Palestinians from Gaza, defying a U.S. president who has shown little patience for dissent from international partners.