Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun returning to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip through checkpoints in an area located in the center of the Strip, where optical scanners are used to detect whether there are weapons hidden inside cars and other vehicles.

The following is an explanation of how this system works, according to witnesses who passed through there, according to what was reported by Reuters news agency.

How the inspection system works

- Inspections are conducted by Egyptian contractors and cooperated by a private American security company, but there are no reports of the presence of American citizens on the ground.

A member of the Egyptian-Qatari committee waves his hand while inspecting vehicles carrying Palestinians as they return to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip amid the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas near Gaza City... January 27, 2025 (Reuters)

- The checkpoints appear to be manned by Egyptian security personnel. Members of the inspection team wear black jackets with the words “Egyptian-Qatari Committee” written on them.

- There are also armed Egyptian security personnel wearing uniforms, stationed some distance from the main inspection area.

- As the vehicles approach the checkpoints, all passengers get off and only the driver remains inside and takes them to the checkpoint where a scanning device checks them for weapons or explosives.

- Witnesses said the entire process took a few minutes per vehicle.

- Hamas police are deployed on both sides of the roads leading to the inspection area located inside what is known as the Netzarim Corridor to maintain order, while engineering units equipped with dogs inspect the roads in search of unexploded ordnance.