Israel says eight hostages are dead, as hundreds of thousands of Gazans head north on foot

Israel has confirmed that eight hostages, previously expected to be released in the coming weeks, are now dead. An Israeli spokesperson noted that the updated list of hostages from Hamas aligns with Israeli intelligence. Originally, 26 hostages were set to be freed during the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, but that number has now decreased to 18.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have begun returning to northern Gaza after Israel reopened checkpoints. Many of those returning report significant destruction. One man found his home burned down and his business looted in Gaza City, while a woman said she moved from a tent in the south to another in the north. A local Gazan expressed that anyone who finds a standing house or even a single room should consider themselves fortunate.

Satellite imagery analysis shows that northern Gaza, particularly Gaza City, has suffered extensive damage, with 74% of buildings either destroyed or damaged.