Palestinians began arriving back in Gaza City early Monday, as Israeli forces opened checkpoints and allowed people back into northern areas that had been closed off since the early days of Israel’s war against Hamas.
Thousands of people, mostly on foot, were on the roads to Gaza City, which has seen largescale destruction during Israeli ground operations and airstrikes that the military said were aimed at destroying the militant group.
Gaza City is one of many areas that came under Israeli evacuation orders, leaving people scrambling to find a safe place amid the war. Many of the evacuees were displaced multiple times and turned to tent camps for shelter.
The Palestinians’ return to Gaza City comes amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that has also included the release of some hostages held in Gaza, freeing Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
A last-minute dispute about the late release of an Israeli hostage delayed access, but Qatar announced early Monday an agreement under which Hamas will free Arbel Yehoud and two other hostages before Friday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the agreement, saying an additional three hostages also will be released Saturday and that Hamas had provided a list with the status of all the hostages who are due to be released during this first phase of the ceasefire.
There was violence Sunday in central Gaza as Israeli forces fired at Palestinians along a coastal road near a checkpoint, killing at least one person and injuring 18 others, according to a spokesperson for al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat.
The Israeli military said in a statement that it “identified several gatherings of dozens of suspects that posed a threat.”
The war in Gaza started with the shock Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 250 hostages. Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza has killed at least 47,300 people, most of them women and children, according to health officials. The Israeli military says the death toll includes 17,000 militants.
Hamas is believed to be holding about 100 hostages, with the ceasefire requiring them to release 33 during a six-week truce in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel. Seven Israeli hostages and nearly 300 Palestinian prisoners have been freed thus far.
Violence Sunday also put pressure on a separate ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at least 22 were killed and 124 others injured as Israel confirmed it would not meet a 60-day deadline to withdraw its troops as part of the ceasefire it reached with Hezbollah in November.
On Sunday, the White House released a statement that the arrangement between Lebanon and Israel, monitored by the United States, would continue to be in effect until Feb. 18.
“The Government of Lebanon, the Government of Israel, and the Government of the United States will also begin negotiations for the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023,” the statement said.
Israel blamed the militants and the Lebanese army for failing to meet their own commitments under the truce. The Israeli military said that it fired “warning shots” toward “suspects” and that it had detained an unspecified number of people.
Under terms of the ceasefire, Hezbollah was required to retreat to the north away from the Israeli border and Israel was to pull out of Lebanon.
In a statement, the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, warned that it was “imperative to avoid further deterioration of the situation.”
It urged the Israeli military to avoid firing at civilians, and for Lebanese people to adhere to the directives of the Lebanese military. “Further violence risks undermining the fragile security situation,” the statement said.
Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
