Gaza City, December 13, 2023\u2014In a significant development, more than half a million displaced Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza in the past 72 hours, according to the Hamas-run media office. The mass movement marks a hopeful turn in the long-standing conflict in the region.
\"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 announced in a statement on Wednesday.
The return of the displaced residents follows Israel's decision to allow people back into the northern areas of the Gaza Strip on Monday. This move comes after a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that has paused 15 months of intense fighting, providing a window of respite for the war-torn region.
In a related development, Hamas's armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, declared that it would release three Israeli detainees on Thursday. Israeli public radio reported that in exchange, Israel would free 110 Palestinian prisoners, signaling a potential easing of tensions between the two sides.
Despite these positive steps, Gaza's health authorities reported somber statistics. Hospitals have 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 injured, highlighting the enduring human cost of the conflict.
The international community is closely watching these developments, hoping that the ceasefire and prisoner exchanges might pave the way for more sustainable peace efforts in the Middle East. The return of displaced Palestinians to their homes is a critical step toward rebuilding lives and fostering stability in the region.
The situation remains fluid, and the hope is that both parties will continue to engage in dialogue to address the underlying issues that have fueled the long-standing conflict.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
