Agreement reached to release Israeli civilian hostage and allow Palestinians to return to north Gaza
Agreement reached to release Israeli civilian hostage and allow Palestinians to return to north Gaza
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Israel and Hamas accused each other of violating the ceasefire over the weekend. An agreement has been reached to release an Israeli civilian hostage and allow displaced Palestinians to return home to northern Gaza, mediator Qatar has said. The agreement brings an end to one of the first major crises in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, after Israel prevented thousands of Palestinians from returning to their homes in northern Gaza as it accused Hamas of changing the order of its hostage release.
![[Four Israeli hostages waved on a stage before Hamas handed them over to Israel]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/26/19/GettyImages-2195183038.jpg)
Hamas will hand over Arbel Yehoud, a civilian, along with two other hostages before Friday, Qatar’s statement said. Israeli authorities will allow displaced Palestinians to return to their homes in northern Gaza on Monday, the office of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
![[Displaced Palestinians gather with their belongings near a roadblock on the al Rashid Street]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/26/12/Israel_Palestinians_79448.jpg)
The initial ceasefire agreement stipulated that Israel would permit Palestinians to return to northern Gaza on Saturday - a move which was put on hold after Israel said Ms Yehoud should have been released that day. Both sides accused the other of violating the terms of the ceasefire.
![[Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble with the majority of the population displaced]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/19/11/SEI236531752.jpg)
Thousands of Palestinians have gathered as they wait to move north to their homes in Gaza. Israeli forces killed two people and wounded nine when they fired on the crowd of Palestinians, according to local health officials. Palestinians returning to northern Gaza face a long road ahead to rebuild their homes, many of which were destroyed in Israel’s 15-month offensive on the small enclave.
