Israel Has Blocked Thousands Of Palestinians From Returning Home To North Gaza Per The Ceasefire Deal

Israel stopped thousands of Palestinians from returning to their homes in north Gaza as scheduled on Saturday, Jan. 25, as part of its ceasefire deal with Hamas.

The first phase of the ceasefire, which began on Jan. 19, includes a halt in fighting in Gaza, Hamas releasing 33 hostages, in exchange for Israel releasing almost 2,000 Palestinian detainees, and Palestinians who were forcibly displaced from north Gaza were to be allowed to return to their homes in the north starting Saturday, Jan. 25.

However, on Saturday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced it would not let displaced Palestinians return to their homes in north Gaza, which Israel has been besieged since Oct. 6, 2024, as planned.

It said that Hamas violated the ceasefire deal by not prioritizing releasing civilian hostages, specifically a woman named Arbel Yehud, who it said was expected to be freed on Saturday.

Videos shared on social media showed Israeli forces shooting at thousands of Palestinians waiting to return to their homes.

Reports indicated that Israel’s gunfire injured at least five people including a child near the Netzarim corridor which separates north Gaza from the rest of the Strip

Hamas had released on Saturday four Israeli women soldiers in exchange for Israel releasing 200 Palestinian detainees.

Hamas said it will release Yehud next Saturday, Feb. 1, and that Israel's decision to stop Palestinians from returning to north Gaza is a violation of the ceasefire agreement, according to Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera reported that the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) said that Hamas agreed to release Yehud before the next exchange on Saturday, Feb. 2 in exchange for the release of 30 Palestinian detainees.

It added that they are now waiting for a practical response from meditators regarding Israel allowing Palestinians to return to their homes in north Gaza.

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