Palestinians begin to return to northern Gaza when a deal is reached to free six hostages
Palestinians have begun returning to the north of Gaza after Israel said a Hamas deal had been reached to release six hostages this week.
The hostages include Erbil Yehud – the civilian in the middle of the line.
Hamas released four soldiers on Saturday, but not Ms. Yehud. Israel accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire deal under which Israeli civilians were released first in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Since the ceasefire deal entered into, seven hostages and less than 300 prisoners have been released.
Footage showed thousands of displaced Palestinians walking north after they gathered at a military checkpoint blocking their progress two days ago.
The ceasefire, hostage and prisoners deal entered into force on January 19. The two exchanges have been completed.
On the third, Hamas will release Ms. Yehud and two other hostages on Thursday, followed by three more on Saturday, Netanyahu and Qatar, which mediated the talks, said.
Israel will begin allowing Palestinians to move north on Monday, as well as freeing more Palestinian prisoners later in the week.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Palestinians were to be allowed to travel north of the Netzarim Corridor, a strip of land seven kilometers (4.3 miles) from Israeli-controlled territory that cuts off northern Gaza from the rest of the territory, on Saturday.
Earlier, photos showed huge crowds waiting to pass.
“We are sleeping on the streets,” Nirim Mosabeh told the BBC at the checkpoint on Sunday. “We cannot go home and every time we try to go home they shoot us.”
The 42-year-old traveled from Deir al-Balla in central Gaza, but was displaced from her home in Shigaya, in the south.
Diab Chebari said he had been at the checkpoint since 20:30 local time (18:30 GMT) on Saturday.
“All night the children were screaming because of the cold – we lit a fire and covered them,” he said.
Israel said it would allow residents to return to the northern Gaza Strip from 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) on Monday, and two hours later, after the row over Ms Yehud is resolved.
Qatari and Egyptian mediators who facilitated talks between Israel and Hamas participated in efforts to end the conflict. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman announced the breakthrough moments before the Israeli Prime Minister.
Israel had asked Hamas mediators to prove that Mrs. Yehud was alive. This appears to have been given to the Egyptians early on Saturday evening, the BBC understands.
Earlier on Sunday, US President Donald Trump said he wants to take Egypt and Jordan over to the Palestinians from Gazawhich he described as a “demolition site.”
Both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority condemned the idea, while Jordan and Egypt also rejected the proposal.
The January ceasefire deal stopped the war that began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken to Gaza hostage.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 47,200 Palestinians, the majority civilians, have been killed in Israel’s offensive.
