On Monday, Qatar announced a significant agreement aimed at facilitating the release of an Israeli civilian hostage while permitting Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. This development marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which remains fragile.
According to the statement released by Qatar, who is mediating in these ceasefire discussions, Hamas is set to release the civilian hostage, Arbel Yehoud, along with two additional hostages prior to Friday.
In a related move, Israeli authorities have approved the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza beginning Monday.
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The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that the hostage release—which will also include soldier Agam Berger—is scheduled for Thursday, and reiterated that Palestinians can commence their movement northward on Monday.
According to Israel’s military, individuals can begin crossing on foot starting at 7 am.
As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel was initially expected to allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza on Saturday.
However, this was delayed due to the situation regarding Yehoud, whom Israel insisted should have been released earlier.
Hamas has accused Israel of breaching the terms of the agreement.
The imminent release of Yehoud and two other hostages is in addition to another planned release next Saturday, which will see three more hostages freed.
Furthermore, Hamas has stated that they have provided a list detailing the necessary information about all hostages scheduled for release during the ceasefire’s first six-week phase.
The Israeli prime minister’s office has confirmed receipt of this information.
Thousands of Palestinians have gathered, eager to move north through the Netzarim corridor that traverses Gaza. Meanwhile, local health officials reported that Israeli forces opened fire on the crowd on Sunday, resulting in two fatalities and nine injuries.
U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed that a significant portion of Gaza’s population be relocated temporarily to countries such as Egypt and Jordan, aiming to “clean out” the war-torn enclave.
However, both Egypt and Jordan, along with Palestinian representatives, have rejected this suggestion out of concern that Israel might permanently prevent refugees from returning.
Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim stated that Palestinians will not accept such proposals, even if they appear well-intentioned for reconstruction efforts.
He emphasized that Palestinians can rebuild Gaza more effectively if Israel lifts its blockade.
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Dispute and shootings test fragile ceasefire
Israeli forces reportedly fired on waiting crowds three times overnight into Sunday, resulting in two deaths and nine injuries, including a child, according to Al-Awda Hospital, which treated the casualties.
Israel’s military stated that warning shots were fired at “several gatherings of dozens of suspects who were advancing toward the troops and posed a threat to them.”
In light of the ceasefire that commenced last Sunday, Israel has withdrawn from several regions of Gaza.
However, the military has cautioned the public to maintain distance from its forces, which continue to operate within a buffer zone inside Gaza along the border and in the Netzarim corridor.
Recently, Hamas released four female Israeli soldiers, while Israel reciprocated by releasing approximately 200 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were serving life sentences due to violent offenses.
Israel contended that Yehoud should have been released prior to the soldiers.
Hamas asserted that they had informed mediators—the United States, Egypt, and Qatar—that Yehoud was alive and assured that she would be released.
Amidst the winter chill, frustration grew among the Palestinians awaiting their chance to move north, with some warming themselves by bonfires.
“We have been in agony for a year and a half,” lamented Nadia Qasem.
Fadi al-Sinwar, another displaced individual from Gaza City, expressed, “the fate of more than a million people is linked to one person,” referring to Yehoud.
“See how valuable we are? We are worthless,” he added.
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Ending the war will be difficult
The ongoing ceasefire is designed to conclude the 15-month conflict ignited by Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, alongside the goal of securing the release of remaining hostages from Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Currently, around 90 hostages remain in Gaza, with Israeli authorities estimating that at least a third, and potentially half, may have perished.
Itzik Horn, father of hostages Iair and Eitan Horn, described any renewal of combat as a “death sentence for the hostages” and criticized government officials advocating for continued warfare.
The first phase of the ceasefire is set to last until early March and entails the release of 33 hostages along with nearly 2000 Palestinian prisoners.
The second, more challenging phase, is still under negotiation. Hamas has stated it will not release the remaining hostages without a conclusive end to the war, while Israel has threatened to resume military actions until Hamas is dismantled.
The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in the deaths of approximately 1200 individuals, primarily civilians, and the abduction of around 250 people.
During a previous ceasefire in November 2023, over 100 hostages were released. Israeli forces have successfully rescued eight living hostages and retrieved the remains of dozens more, at least three of whom were mistakenly killed by Israeli forces. Seven hostages have been freed in the latest ceasefire agreement.
Israel’s military actions have claimed the lives of over 47,000 Palestinians, with more than half being women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The exact number of combatants among the deceased remains unspecified.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military claims to have eliminated over 17,000 fighters, although it has not provided evidence for this figure.
Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have devastated extensive portions of Gaza, displacing around 90 percent of its 2.3 million population.
Many returning to their homes since the ceasefire began have discovered only rubble and devastation.
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