In accordance with a delicate peace, Israel lifted its closure of the northern for the first time since the first few days of the 15-month conflict with Hamas, prompting tens of thousands of Palestinians to return to the most severely damaged region of the Gaza Strip on Monday.
In a stunning reverse of the mass migration from the northeast at the start of the conflict, which some Palestinians had feared Israel may make lasting, large crowds of people carrying their belongings on feet stretched along a major highway running next to the coastline.
Palestinians who have been sheltered in filthy camp camps and abandoned schools are eager to go back to their properties, even though they are aware that their homes have possible been damaged or destroyed for more than a year.
Some saw their profit as an act of boldness after Israel’s military plan, which was launched in response to Hamas ‘ Oct. 7, 2023, harm, and as a rejection of U. S. President Donald Trump’s idea that large numbers of Palestinians been resettled in Egypt and Jordan.
Ismail Abu Matter, a dad of four who had been waiting for three times before crossing with his relatives, described moments of joy on the other side, with persons singing, praying, and crying as they were reunited with friends.
Abu Matter, whose friends included the tens of thousands of Palestinians who fled or were driven out of what is presently Israel during the 1948 conflict that surrounded its construction, said,” the pleasure of profit.” ” We had thought we haven’t return, like our predecessors”.
The opening was postponed for two weeks because of a dispute between Hamas and Israel, which claimed the violent party had altered the captives ‘ positions in trade for hundreds of Arab prisoners. Negotiators resolved the dispute immediately.
Hamas referred to the return as” a victory for our people, and a failure and defeat for the ( Israeli ) occupation and transfer plans.”
The stalemate aims to end the most bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas in history and bring the victims who were captured in the insurgents ‘ attack on October 7, 2023 to freedom.
In the first days of the war, Israel commanded the entire removal of the northwest, and it was soon sealed off by ground troops. In October 2023, around a million people emigrated to the south, while hundreds of thousands remained in the northeast, where there were some of the heaviest battle and the worst loss of the conflict.
Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel may continue to abide by the peace and that anyone who violates it or threatens to enlist in Israeli forces” will bear the full value.”
On the social media platform X, he wrote,” We will not allow a return to the reality of Oct. 7.”
Hostage debate rattled week-old peace Israel had delayed the starting of the cross, which was supposed to happen over the weekend, saying it would not let Palestinians north until a female human hostage, Arbel Yehoud, was released. Additionally, it alleges Hamas hasn’t disclosed any information about the status of the remaining hostages who will be freed in the first phase.
Hamas then alleged that Israel had broken the deal by not opening the crossing.
Early on Monday, the Gulf nation of Qatar, a key mediator with Hamas, announced that an agreement had been reached to release Yehoud along with two other hostages before Friday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a statement that the hostage release, which will include female soldier Agam Berger, will take place on Thursday. That release will be in addition to the one already scheduled for Saturday, when three hostages should be freed.
Hamas also provided a list of necessary hostage information to be made available during the first phase of the ceasefire, which will last for six weeks.
Palestinians were permitted to cross the so-called Netzarim corridor, a military enclave south of Gaza City, on foot without being inspected at 7 a.m., beginning at 7 a.m. An inspection mechanism for vehicles was scheduled to open later, but it was not immediately known.
In exchange for the release of nearly 2, 000 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, Hamas embarks on a second, more difficult phase of the ceasefire, which will continue until early March. The militants have released seven hostages, including four female soldiers, in the current ceasefire, in exchange for more than 300 prisoners, including many serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis.
Negotiating the second and much more challenging portion of the agreement has not yet been done. Netanyahu claims he is still committed to destroying the militant group and putting an end to its nearly 18-year rule over Gaza, while Hamas says it won’t release the remaining 60 or so hostages until Israel ends the conflict.
Hamas started the war when thousands of its fighters stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1, 200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. Israel estimates that around a third of the 90 hostages who are still incarcerated in Gaza are dead.
Israel’s air and ground war has killed over 47, 000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17, 000 militants, without providing evidence.
Israeli bombardment and ground operations have displaced around 90 % of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, often multiple times, and flattened entire neighborhoods.
