Palestinians in Gaza head north en masse after 'open checkpoint' rumours

Thousands of Palestinians flooded the coast road north on Sunday after hearing that some people had managed to cross a closed checkpoint towards Gaza City, despite Israel denying it was open.

Journalist reported mothers holding their children's hands and families piling onto donkey carts with their luggage as they made the journey.

They hoped to cross a military checkpoint on al-Rashid road south of Gaza City, but the Israeli army has said that reports the route was open were "not true".

On the other side, desperate families waited for their loved ones in the rubble of the battered main city in Gaza.

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