Over the past 72 hours, more than 500,000 displaced Palestinians have made their way back to northern Gaza, marking a significant movement of people in the region. The Hamas-run media office announced on Wednesday that masses of citizens have returned 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 to allow displaced individuals to return to the north of the Gaza Strip on Monday, following a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that put a pause on 15 months of fighting.
In a related 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 would free 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.
Meanwhile, 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 injuries, and two new fatalities. Since October 7, 2023, the total death toll has reached 47,417, with 111,571 injured, according to the authorities.
The return of displaced Palestinians and the exchange of prisoners are seen as pivotal steps toward easing tensions in the region. However, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with a substantial number of casualties and injuries recorded over the past months.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
