People Walk Towards Homes Through Destroyed Streets of Gaza City on January 19, 2025
A mediator, Qatar, announced early Monday that an agreement has been reached to release an Israeli civilian hostage, Arbel Yehoud, and allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, easing the first major crisis of the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The agreement states that Hamas will hand over Yehoud, along with two other hostages, before Friday. Israeli authorities will allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza on Monday. The release of Yehoud and the other two hostages is in addition to the one already set for next Saturday, when three hostages will be released.
Thousands of Palestinians have gathered, waiting to move north through the Netzarim corridor bisecting the territory, while local health officials reported that Israeli forces fired on the crowd, killing two people and wounding nine. The U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that most of Gaza’s population be temporarily resettled in Egypt and Jordan, but this plan was rejected by Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestinians.
Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim said Palestinians would never accept such a proposal, “even if seemingly well-intentioned under the guise of reconstruction.” He stated that the Palestinians can rebuild Gaza “even better than before” if Israel lifts its blockade.
Dispute and Shootings Test Fragile Ceasefire
Israeli forces fired on crowds on three occasions overnight and into Sunday, killing two people and wounding nine, including a child, according to Al-Awda Hospital, which received the casualties. Israel’s military said it fired warning shots at “several gatherings of dozens of suspects who were advancing toward the troops and posed a threat to them.”
Under the ceasefire deal, Israel will begin allowing Palestinians to return to their homes in northern Gaza on Saturday, but this plan was put on hold because of Yehoud. Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement.
The ceasefire is aimed at ending the 15-month war triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack and freeing hostages still held in Gaza in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Around 90 hostages are still in Gaza, and Israeli authorities believe at least a third, and up to half, have died.
