In a significant development in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that six hostages, including Arbel Yehud, will be released this week. Concurrently, residents of Gaza will be permitted to return to their homes in the north starting Monday. This move comes after heightened tensions surrounding the return of displaced Palestinians, which had been held up due to ongoing negotiations for the release of hostages.
The announcement follows the recent release of four soldiers on Saturday, although Arbel Yehud, a civilian central to the negotiations, has yet to be freed, raising concerns from Israeli officials that Hamas may not be adhering to the terms of their ceasefire agreement, which stipulated that Israeli civilians would be prioritized in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Since the ceasefire began on January 19, there have been two completed prisoner exchanges, resulting in seven hostages and over 200 Palestinian prisoners being released.
As the ceasefire continues to hold, thousands of displaced Palestinians have been gathering near the military barrier that separates north and south Gaza, eagerly awaiting their chance to return home. Images captured over the last few days depict the large crowds at the Netzarim Corridor, a key thoroughfare under Israeli control.
According to Netanyahu and Qatari mediators involved in the discussions, the release of Ms. Yehud and two other hostages is expected on Friday, followed by another three on Saturday. In conjunction with these developments, Israel has indicated it will also continue to allow the movement of Palestinian residents to the north, aiming to facilitate further transitions throughout the week.
