Israel announced on Monday that it will allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza following a new hostage release deal with Hamas.
The office of the Israeli prime minister confirmed that three Israeli civilian hostages will be released in an unscheduled handover on Thursday, allowing Palestinians displaced over the 15-month conflict to return to their homes in northern Gaza starting Monday morning.
Originally, under a ceasefire agreement effective since January 19, Palestinians were expected to begin returning to northern Gaza on January 25. However, Israel had postponed this due to the delayed release of Arbel Yehud, a female civilian hostage who was initially set to be freed on Saturday in the second hostage swap.
Israel stated on Saturday that Palestinian return to northern Gaza would be contingent upon Yehud's release. Yehud, along with female observer soldier Agam Berger and another unnamed abductee, is now slated for release on Thursday.
This release complements the prior swap scheduled for the upcoming Saturday, which includes the release of three hostages.
So far, seven Israeli women have been freed by Hamas as part of the ceasefire agreement.
Israel has also received a list from Hamas detailing the status of the 26 hostages scheduled to be released by the end of the six-week phase one of the agreement.
The Israeli military issued a statement instructing Gaza residents that they would be permitted to return on foot via the coastal road at 05:00 GMT and by vehicle through the eastern Salahudeen road at 07:00 GMT. They warned residents against approaching Israeli forces' positions.
Hamas described the return of Gazans to the north of the devastated territory as a victory against \\"plans\\" for the forced displacement of Palestinians.
\\"The return of the displaced is a victory for our people and signals the failure and defeat of the plans for occupation and displacement,\\" said Hamas, as thousands of Gazans began moving northward after Israel lifted the blockade on their passage.
The Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas, referred to the return as a \\"response to all those who dream of displacing our people.\\"
Reference(s):
Israel allows return of Gazans after new hostage breakthrough
cgtn.com
