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Israel allows return of Gazans after new hostage release deal with Hamas

CGTN

Israel allows return of Gazans after new hostage release deal with Hamas

Israel said on Monday that it will allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, following a new hostage release deal with Hamas.

The Israeli prime minister's office confirmed in a statement that three Israeli civilian hostages will be released in an unscheduled handover on Thursday and that Palestinians, displaced over the 15-month-old conflict, will be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza starting Monday morning.

Under a ceasefire agreement that took effect on January 19, Israel should have begun allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza on January 25. But Israel put that on hold because the release of Arbel Yehud, a female civilian hostage, was somehow delayed. Yehud was set to be released on Saturday in the second hostage swap.

Israel said on Saturday that it would not allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza until Yehud's release was arranged.

Yehud, formerly scheduled to be released on February 1 as part of the third swap, is now on the list for Thursday's release, along with female observer soldier Agam Berger and another unnamed abductee.

The release of Yehud and two other hostages is in addition to the swap already set for the coming Saturday, when three hostages should be released.

Seven Israeli women have already been freed by Hamas as part of the ceasefire agreement.

Israel also received from Hamas a list detailing the status of the 26 hostages set to be released by the end of the six-week phase one of the agreement.

The Israeli military put out a statement telling Gaza residents they would be allowed to return on foot through the coastal road at 0500 GMT and in vehicles through the eastern Salahudeen road at 0700 GMT. It warned them against approaching Israeli forces' positions.

Hamas said on Monday that the return of Gazans to the north of the devastated territory was a victory against "plans" for the forced displacement of the Palestinians. 

"The return of the displaced is a victory for our people and signals the failure and defeat of the plans for occupation and displacement," Hamas said as thousands of Gazans streamed northward after Israel stopped blocking their passage. 

Hamas's ally Islamic Jihad called it a "response to all those who dream of displacing our people."

(With input from agencies)

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