Hamas militant group has accused Israel of violating the cease-fire deal by blocking thousands of displaced Palestinians’ return to their homes in northern part of Gaza strip.
“The occupation is stalling under the pretext of prisoner Arbel Yehoud, despite the movement informing mediators that she is alive and providing all the necessary guarantees for her release. Hamas holds Israel responsible for the delay in implementing the agreement,” the militant group said on Sunday.
Israel earlier said it would not allow the return of Palestinians until the release of Arbel Yehud. “We are following up with the mediators to find a solution to this issue in a way that ensures the return of the displaced to their homes as soon as possible,” Hamas stated.
Earlier, on Saturday Hamas returned four Israeli female soldiers in exchange of 100 Palestinians in a swap that is part of the fragile cease-fire deal reached on January 15. The deal stipulates the displaced Palestinians’ return to their neighbourhood in Gaza as well as Israel forces’ withdrawal from the populated areas of Gaza. Under the deal - that was negotiated by the US, Egypt and Qatar - Israel will release about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, while Hamas will return 33 Israeli hostages captured during Hamas’ incursion on October 7.
However, Israel said it would not open the Netzarim Corridor - that bisects the northern and southern halves of the strip – for Palestinians unless the female civilian Arbel Yehoud was released from captivity.
“Tens of thousands of displaced people are waiting near the Netzarim Corridor to return to the northern Gaza Strip,” Gaza’s civil defence agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal told AFP. According to Palestinian authorities, Israel’s war unleashed since October last year has killed more than 47,000 civilians and injured 111,000 others in Gaza.
