Palestinians begin to return to northern Gaza after deal on Israeli civilian hostage reached
Palestinians begin to return to northern Gaza after deal on Israeli civilian hostage reached
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Benjamin Netanyahu confirms agreement reached with Hamas for civilian hostage Arbel Yehoud to be released on Thursday. Displaced Palestinians have started returning to north Gaza, the territory’s interior ministry said, after mediator Qatar said an agreement had been reached to release an Israeli civilian hostage, easing the first major crisis of the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
![[Drone footage shows thousands of Palestinians waiting to return to northern Gaza Strip – video]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b1381e1cd91547a5c002cdf6286cff581ea76a6e/0_406_5669_3189/5669.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Qatar’s statement early on Monday said Hamas would hand over the civilian hostage, Arbel Yehoud, along with two other hostages before Friday. And on Monday, Israeli authorities will allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. The office of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement said the hostage release would take place on Thursday and confirmed that Palestinians would be able to move north on Monday.
“The passage of displaced Palestinians has begun along the Al-Rashid Road via the western part of the Netzarim checkpoint towards Gaza City and the northern part” of the Gaza Strip, an official told the news agency AFP. Images posted on social media showed thousands of people streaming along sandy roadways fringed by the devastation of more than a year of Israeli airstrikes.
Responding to news that they can begin moving north early on Monday, displaced families burst into cheers at shelters and tent encampments. “No sleep, I have everything packed and ready to go with the first light of day,” said Ghada, a mother of five.
