A massive movement of Palestinians began early morning as tens of thousands of displaced residents started their journey back to northern Gaza, despite widespread destruction from Israeli attacks. Reports indicate that 80-90 percent of buildings in northern Gaza lie in ruins, yet Palestinians, who have endured multiple displacements over the past 15 months, express their determination to return to their homeland.<\/p>\n
The Israeli authorities opened the Netzarim Corridor, which connects the northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip, at 07:00 local time (08:00 GMT). Thousands of Palestinians began their northward journey on foot along Rashid Street, carrying what few possessions they could manage.<\/p>\n
A second route opened at 09:00 local time (10:00 GMT) along Salah al-Din Street, designated exclusively for vehicular traffic. A U.S. private security company has been tasked with inspecting vehicles traveling from southern to northern Gaza. Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) maintain surveillance over Salah al-Din Street during the operation.<\/p>\n
Despite the devastating scale of destruction in northern Gaza, where Israeli attacks have leveled 80-90 percent of buildings, Palestinians who have endured repeated displacement throughout the 15-month conflict emphasize their resolute desire to return to their land.<\/p>\n
Hamas responds to mass return<\/b><\/p>\n
Hamas Political Bureau Member Izzat ar-Rishk issued a written statement congratulating the people of Gaza on what he termed their “blessed return.”<\/p>\n
“This is a great day,” Rishk declared. “The sight of the displaced returning to the north shatters all the dreams and illusions of the Israeli occupation about displacing the Palestinian people.”<\/p>\n
Initially, Israel had announced it would prevent displaced Palestinians from entering northern Gaza, violating terms of the ceasefire agreement reached with Hamas over prisoner exchange disputes. Aerial footage captured dramatic scenes of Palestinians waiting to cross into northern Gaza, forming what observers described as a human flood.<\/p>\n
Non-release of Israeli prisoner is cause for crisis<\/b><\/p>\n
A crisis emerged during the second round of prisoner exchanges between Hamas and Israel when an Israeli prisoner identified as Arbel Yehud was not released as expected. Although Hamas transferred four Israeli prisoners during this round, Israel cited Yehud’s non-release as grounds for blocking Gaza residents’ north-south movement, contrary to the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement terms.<\/p>\n
Negotiations continued regarding Yehud’s release prior to the third exchange round scheduled for Saturday. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Majid al-Ansari later announced via his X account that both parties had reached an agreement resolving the crisis.<\/p>\n
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office subsequently confirmed that a new prisoner exchange would take place on Thursday, securing the release of Yehud, Agam Berger, and one additional Israeli prisoner. The statement indicated that three more Israeli prisoners would be released during this exchange round, with further releases planned for Saturday in accordance with the agreement.<\/p>\n
As part of these new arrangements, Gaza Strip residents have been granted permission to move from south to north, marking a significant development in the ongoing humanitarian situation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A massive movement of Palestinians began early morning as tens of thousands of displaced residents started their journey back to northern Gaza, despite widespread destruction from Israeli attacks. Reports indicate that 80-90 percent of buildings in northern Gaza lie in ruins, yet Palestinians, who have endured multiple displacements over the past 15 months, express their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7452,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[5438,5432,5431,5434,5441,4986,5439,4442,5440,4556,5435,5433,5437,3776,5436],"class_list":["post-7451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middleeast","tag-gaza-ceasefire-agreement","tag-gaza-civilians-return","tag-gaza-displacement","tag-gaza-humanitarian-crisis","tag-gaza-humanitarian-situation","tag-gaza-reconstruction","tag-hamas-statement","tag-hamas-israel-prisoner-swap","tag-israeli-prisoners-release","tag-israeli-palestinian-conflict","tag-netzarim-corridor","tag-northern-gaza-destruction","tag-palestinian-displacement","tag-qatar-mediation","tag-salah-al-din-street"],"yoast_head":"\n