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.

The U.S. said on Sunday that the agreement between Lebanon and Israel would remain in effect until Feb. 18, after Israel said on Friday it would keep troops in the south beyond the Sunday deadline set out in a U.

The US and Lebanon say the ceasefire deal with Israel - which had been due to expire on Sunday - has been extended until mid-February. Israel had kept troops deployed in Lebanon beyond the initial deadline,