ASIATODAY.ID, GAZA – Palestinians began returning to their homes in northern Gaza in their thousands on Monday, January 27 after Israel and Hamas said they had reached an agreement to free six other hostages.
This marked the first time Palestinians were allowed to reach northern Gaza since the outbreak of Israel’s deadly 15-month war in the enclave.
Palestinians arrived as Israeli troops opened checkpoints and allowed people to return to the northern Gaza area which has been closed since the start of Israel’s war against Hamas. Thousands of people, many of them walked north along the coast road on Monday morning, carrying whatever belongings they could and had.
“It feels amazing when you return home, return to your family, relatives and loved ones, and check your home to see if it is still a home,” Gaza refugee Ibrahim Abu Hassera told AFP.
Israel briefly prevented large crowds of Palestinians from returning to their homes in northern Gaza, accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire by not freeing prisoners.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas also hailed the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza as a “victory” against efforts to forcibly evict them.
Gaza City is one of many areas under Israeli evacuation orders, leaving people scrambling to find safe haven amid the war. Before the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, many refugees were displaced several times and moved to tents for shelter. The return of Palestinians to Gaza City comes amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that also includes the release of several hostages held in Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and a surge in humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The war in Gaza began with Hamas’s surprise attack on October 7, 2023 against Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 250 hostages. Israel’s counterattack on Gaza has killed at least 47,300 people, most of them women and children, according to health officials.
The Israeli military said the death toll included 17,000 militants. Hamas is believed to be holding around 100 people hostage, with the ceasefire requiring them to release 33 people during a six-week truce in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel.
Seven Israeli hostages and nearly 300 Palestinian prisoners have been freed so far. (AT Network)
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