When Inas Al-Batniji finally returned to her longed-for Gaza City this week, she was amazed to find her residential tower block still standing.

More than 375,000 Palestinians have crossed into northern Gaza since Israel allowed their return on Monday morning, the United Nations said Tuesday. That represents over a third of the million people who fled the north in the war’s first weeks.

Joyous crowds of Palestinians, some holding babies or pushing wheelchairs, walked along a seaside road all day and into the night, carrying bedrolls, bottles of water and other belongings.