More than 500,000 displaced Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza in the past 72 hours, marking a significant movement of people amid the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The Hamas-run media office announced on Wednesday that these individuals have made their way back via the Al-Rashid and Salah Al-Din roads.
\"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.
This mass return follows Israel's decision on Monday to allow displaced people to go back to the north of the Gaza Strip. The move comes in the wake of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that has temporarily halted 15 months of fighting, offering a glimmer of hope for stability in the region.
In a related development, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, announced it would release three Israeli detainees on Thursday. Concurrently, Israeli public radio reported that Israel would release 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange, indicating a potential de-escalation of tensions.
However, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Gaza's health authorities reported that hospitals have received 63 bodies in the past 24 hours. Among them were 59 individuals recovered from rubble, two who succumbed to their injuries, and two new fatalities. This brings the total death toll since October 7, 2023, to 47,417, with 111,571 people injured, according to the authorities.
The return of displaced Palestinians and the potential prisoner exchange may signal a turning point in the prolonged conflict, but the high casualty figures underscore the ongoing challenges faced by the region.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
