The move came after Hamas confirmed it would release six hostages in two groups this week, including civilian woman Arbel Yehud and soldier Agam Berger, according to The Press Service of Israel (TPS-IL).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Office said on Monday morning that Yehud, Berger and a third unspecified hostage will be released on Thursday. Unconfirmed reports suggested that the third hostage would be US-Israeli national Keith Siegel. Another three hostages will be released on Saturday.

On Monday morning, thousands of Palestinians began streaming across the Netzarim corridor on foot. Lt.-Col. Avichay Adraee, the Israel Defense Force’s chief Arabic-language spokesman tweeted that pedestrians would be allowed to cross along Gaza’s Sea Road while vehicles would have cross along Salah a-Din Road, the Strip’s main north-south route. Cars would be inspected, he added.

“The entry of armed men or the transfer of weapons to the northern Strip will be considered a violation of the agreement,” Adraee tweeted. “It is prohibited to approach the Rafah Crossing area or the Philadelphi Corridor, it is prohibited to swim in the maritime area, and it is prohibited to approach Israeli territory or the buffer zone.”