A drone image captures Palestinians in central Gaza waiting to return to their northern homes after being displaced to the south during the war. This comes amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on January 26, 2025. Reuters
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has announced plans to release Israeli civilian Arbel Yehud, soldier Agam Berger, and one other hostage before Friday, according to a statement by mediator Qatar. In exchange, Israel will allow displaced residents of northern Gaza to return to their homes starting Monday morning. This development comes amid a fragile ceasefire, with hopes of easing tensions in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the hostage release in a post on X, reiterating Israel’s commitment to securing the return of all hostages, whether alive or deceased. “Israel will not tolerate any violation of the agreement,” read a statement from his office. The decision to facilitate the return of northern Gaza residents marks a significant step in the ceasefire process. The arrangement will enable approximately 650,000 Palestinians displaced in central and southern Gaza to head back to their homes in the north, a region devastated by 15 months of aerial and ground offensives that claimed over 47,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Hamas, meanwhile, stated it had provided mediators with the necessary information regarding the list of hostages set for release. This move aligns with the terms of the ceasefire agreement mediated by Qatar and Egypt, with backing from the United States.
The conflict escalated after Hamas took around 250 hostages during a 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures. This marked a new peak in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Although the fighting has paused, tensions remain high, and the ceasefire is seen as delicate.
For the past two days, tens of thousands of Palestinians have waited at roadblocks, eager to return to their homes in northern Gaza. Overloaded vehicles carrying mattresses, food, and tents lined the roads, reflecting the resilience of those displaced for over a year. The Israeli military announced that the return of Gaza residents would commence at 05:00 GMT for pedestrians using the coastal road and at 07:00 GMT for vehicles through the Salahudeen road. The military warned residents to avoid Israeli forces and not to assist any militant group attempting to exploit the routes for transporting weapons.
Responding to the announcement, shelters and tent camps erupted in joy. Families, tired of the long displacement, saw the chance to return home as a glimmer of hope. Ghada, a mother of five, expressed her relief, saying, “No sleep, I have everything packed and ready to go with the first light of day. At least we are going back home. Now I can say the war is over, and I hope it will stay calm.”
As the ceasefire holds and families return to their homes, the international community watches closely, hoping that this step will pave the way for lasting peace.
