Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Hamas will release six hostages this week, while Israel will permit Palestinians in Gaza to return to their homes in the northern region starting Monday.

Among the hostages is Arbel Yehud, a civilian at the center of a dispute that had delayed Gazans’ return to northern Gaza.

Although Hamas had released four soldiers on Saturday, Yehud’s release was not included, leading Israel to accuse Hamas of violating a ceasefire agreement that prioritized the release of Israeli civilians in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Since the ceasefire began on January 19, a total of seven hostages and over 200 prisoners have been exchanged. The upcoming release will occur in stages: Yehud and two other hostages will be freed on Friday, followed by three more on Saturday.

Thousands of displaced Palestinians have been gathering at a military barrier, hoping to move north. Israel has confirmed that residents will be allowed to return to northern Gaza starting at 07:00 local time on Monday, after resolving the situation concerning Yehud.

Qatari and Egyptian mediators played a crucial role in facilitating discussions between Israel and Hamas, ultimately leading to this breakthrough. Tensions had escalated as Israel sought confirmation from Hamas regarding Yehud’s status.

As the situation unfolds, US President Donald Trump has suggested that neighboring countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, should accept Palestinians from Gaza, a proposal both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority have condemned, with Jordan and Egypt also rejecting the idea.

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The ceasefire was established following the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant casualties on both sides, including around 1,200 Israelis killed and over 47,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.