Israel agrees to returnees in Gaza amid tense ceasefire
Israel has allowed Palestinians to return to the northern Gaza Strip as part of an agreement with Hamas, reports the Associated Press.
Israel has enabled Palestinians to return to the northern Gaza Strip, as a result of an agreement with Hamas. The decision, according to the Associated Press, was announced on Monday.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians who gathered on Sunday near the Netzarim corridor, occupied by Israeli forces, began crossing it on Monday morning.
The return to the destroyed part of the Gaza Strip was delayed by a few days due to mutual accusations of violating the terms of the ceasefire negotiated in January. Israel ordered a complete evacuation in the first days of the war with Hamas.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that Hamas did not release the civilian hostage Arbel Yehud on Saturday, nor did it provide information about the abducted. Qatar, a key mediator in the conflict, announced an agreement with the parties concerning the hostage on Monday, according to AP.
What does the agreement between Hamas and Israel entail?
The ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel includes a swap of 33 hostages held by Hamas for about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. The Red Cross is mediating the exchange. This is the first phase of the agreement, which is expected to last until the beginning of March.
The war in the Gaza Strip began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people. In the ongoing conflict, over 47,000 residents of the Gaza Strip have died, and most have been forced to flee. A humanitarian crisis prevails there.
