More than 500,000 displaced Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza in the past 72 hours, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Hamas-run media office. This significant movement comes after Israel began allowing displaced individuals to return to the north of the Gaza Strip on Monday, following a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that has paused 15 months of intense fighting.
\"More than half a million displaced Palestinians have returned in the past 72 hours from the southern and central governorates to Gaza and northern governorates via Al-Rashid and Salah Al-Din roads,\" the media office stated.
In a related development, Hamas's armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced plans to release three Israeli detainees on Thursday. Israeli public radio reported that Israel would, in exchange, free 110 Palestinian prisoners, signaling a potential de-escalation in tensions.
Gaza's health authorities reported that hospitals had received 63 bodies in the past 24 hours, including 59 recovered from rubble, two who succumbed to injuries, and two new fatalities. This brings the total death toll since October 7, 2023, to 47,417, with 111,571 individuals injured, according to official figures.
The ceasefire and the return of displaced residents mark a critical juncture in the longstanding conflict, offering a glimmer of hope for stability in the region. However, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with significant loss of life and infrastructure damage.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
