Israel prevents return of displaced Palestinians to north Gaza
At least one Palestinian has been killed and others wounded by Israeli gunfire as thousands wait to return to the north via the Netzarim Corridor
Israel is continuing to prevent displaced Palestinians from returning to the north of the Gaza Strip, accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire deal and demanding the release of a captive who it said was supposed to be released as part of the last round of exchanges.
Hamas said in a statement on 26 January that it “is following up with mediators on the [Israeli] occupation’s prevention of the return of the displaced from the south to the north, which constitutes a violation and breach of the ceasefire agreement.”
“[Israel] is stalling under the pretext of the captive Arbel Yehud, even though we informed mediators that she is alive and gave all the necessary guarantees for her release. We hold the occupation responsible for obstructing the implementation of the agreement, and we are following up with the mediators with full responsibility to reach a solution that leads to the return of the displaced," it added.
Israeli political sources cited by Israel Hayom and other Hebrew outlets that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “stands firm on the decision he made not to allow the passage of Gazans northward through the Netzarim Corridor — until the issue of the return of Arbel Yehud is resolved.”
Yehud, a female Israeli soldier, is being held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement. Hebrew media claimed on Friday that the PIJ was refusing to release her and was facing pressure from the movement’s leadership abroad.
Israeli officials cited by the New York Times (NYT) said the release of Yehud was not Hamas’ responsibility alone.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians are waiting at the Netzarim corridor to be allowed entry into northern Gaza as per the terms of the ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month. Israeli forces are also supposed to withdraw from Netzarim, according to the deal, but are delaying the exit.
Video footage showed Israeli tanks and vehicles deployed along the Salah al-Din Road, preventing the return of the displaced to the north.
At least one Palestinian has been killed and over a dozen injured over the past 24 hours as a result of Israeli troops opening fire at displaced residents waiting to return.
The delay comes after Israeli authorities released 200 Palestinians from Israeli prisons on 25 January as part of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Hamas released four female Israeli soldiers as part of the deal earlier in the day.
One hundred fourteen Palestinian prisoners were transferred from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank for release in Ramallah, 16 were returned to Gaza, and 70 were exiled outside Palestine, WAFA news agency reported. Egypt will host them for 48 hours before they are sent to Tunisia, Algeria, and Turkiye – which all agreed to receive them.