More than 500,000 displaced Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza over the past 72 hours, according to the Hamas-run media office. The mass movement follows a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that has halted 15 months of 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 said in a statement on Wednesday.
Israel began allowing displaced people to return to the north of the Gaza Strip on Monday, easing movement restrictions that had significantly impacted the region's population.
In a significant development, Hamas's armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced that it would release three Israeli detainees on Thursday. Israeli public radio reported that Israel, in exchange, would free 110 Palestinian prisoners.
Meanwhile, Gaza's health authorities reported that hospitals received 63 bodies in the past 24 hours, including 59 recovered from rubble, two who died of injuries, and two new fatalities. This brings the total death toll since October 7, 2023, to 47,417, with 111,571 injured, according to the authorities.
The return of displaced Palestinians and the reciprocal prisoner releases mark significant steps toward easing tensions in the region. However, the humanitarian situation remains critical, and the long-term prospects for peace are uncertain.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
