Long lines of Palestinians -- some kneeling to kiss the soil as they stepped into the northern part of the strip -- were making their way home on Monday.

Israel has begun allowing Palestinians to return to the heavily destroyed north of the Gaza Strip for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas.

Israel accused Hamas of violating a fragile ceasefire by changing the order of hostages it has released, leading it to stop thousands of Palestinians from returning to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday.