Israeli troops prevented Palestinians from returning to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday after Israel accused Hamas of violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
Under the terms of the initial phase of the deal agreed earlier this month, Israel was to withdraw some of its forces to allow hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans to head north after an exchange of hostages and prisoners SATURDAY.
But Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, accused Hamas on Saturday of violating the agreement by not returning captive Israeli civilians first. Israeli officials said that under the agreement, Arbel Yehud, an Israeli held hostage in Gaza, was supposed to be one of four women released on Saturday.
The freed hostages were all soldiers who had been staying at a base on the Gaza border and were taken from there on October 7, 2023, during the Hamas-led attack on Israel that started the war .
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said it would not allow Gazans to move north “until the liberation of the Yehud civil arbel has been organized”, leaving the timing of the withdrawal troops and the return of residents.
Hamas accused Israel of being reluctant to fully implement the ceasefire agreement. The dispute is one of the largest between the sides, as the ceasefire came into effect after 15 months of devastating war.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
