27
Jan
Jan
QATAR-BROKERED DEAL SECURES RELEASE OF ISRAELI HOSTAGE AND PALESTINIAN RETURN TO NORTHERN GAZA
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Nicolas Adekeye / 3 months
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- 2 min read
A Qatar-brokered agreement has been reached to release an Israeli civilian hostage, Arbel Yehoud, and allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, easing tensions in the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The deal, announced by Qatar on Monday, also includes the release of two other hostages before Friday. Yehoud According to the agreement, Hamas will hand over Yehoud and the two other hostages, while Israel will allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza starting Monday. The Israeli military said people can start crossing on foot at 7 a.m. Yair & Eitan Horn The release of Yehoud and the two other hostages is in addition to the one already set for next Saturday, when three hostages are expected to be released. Hamas has also handed over a list of required information about all hostages to be released in the ceasefire’s six-week first phase. The development comes after a tense standoff between Israel and Hamas over the release of Yehoud, which had put the ceasefire at risk. Thousands of Palestinians had gathered at the Netzarim corridor, waiting to move north, but were fired upon by Israeli forces, killing two people and wounding nine. US President Donald Trump had suggested that most of Gaza’s population be temporarily resettled elsewhere, including in Egypt and Jordan, to “clean out” the war-ravaged enclave. However, the proposal was rejected by Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestinians, who fear that Israel might not allow refugees to return. Bassem Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim said Palestinians would never accept such a proposal, “even if seemingly well-intentioned under the guise of reconstruction.” He added that Palestinians can rebuild Gaza “even better than before” if Israel lifts its blockade. The ceasefire, which came into effect last Sunday, aims to end the 15-month war triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack and free hostages still held in Gaza in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Around 90 hostages are still in Gaza, and Israeli authorities believe at least a third, and up to half, have died. Horn “It’s a death sentence for the hostages” if fighting resumes, said Itzik Horn, the father of hostages Iair and Eitan Horn.