Displaced Palestinians wait for Israel to allow their return home

Thousands of displaced Palestinians have been prevented from returning to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip, after Israel blocked a major road, accusing Hamas of violating the terms of the ceasefire deal.

The conflict came after Hamas released four Israeli soldiers – and Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners.

But the Israeli government said that Ghazan would not be allowed to travel north until plans were in place to release Israeli civilian Arbel Yehud. Hamas has insisted that she is alive and will be released next week.

According to the deal, Hamas was to release civilians in front of the soldiers.

On Saturday evening, as crowds gathered along Al-Rashid Road in central Gaza to return home, shots were reportedly fired.

Reuters news agency, citing the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, and Palestinian media reported that one person had been killed and some injured.

Four gunshots can be heard in a video of the incident said to have been posted online. BBC VERIFY has corroborated the location of the footage, but the BBC has been unable to independently verify reports of the infection.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said forces in central Gaza released the footage after “several gatherings of dozens of suspects posing a threat to the forces were identified.”

“Contrary to reports emerging in recent hours, all shootings in the area were carried out for the purpose of elimination and were not intended to harm. We confirm that as of this point, any injuries to the suspects are known to have occurred as a result of the shooting.”

Earlier on Saturday, Muhammad Asr al-Din was one of thousands waiting to return home to northern Gaza.

He told the BBC over the phone: “I know my house may be destroyed, but I will put a tent over its remains. I just want to go back.”

“I need to get my business back. I am a barber in Gaza, and I am trying to figure out how to repair the damage to the salon and restart my business. I have become indebted to a lot of people, and I can afford to buy the simplest things for my children,” he added.

“All I hope is for this conflict between Hamas and Israel to end, and for us to be allowed to return to our homes in the north. We have not seen our loved ones for more than 15 months.”

The Netzarim Corridor is a seven-kilogram (4.3 mi) strip of land controlled by Israel that cuts off northern Gaza from the rest of the territory.

Lobna Nasar arrived with her two daughters and son in a donkey cart in the afternoon, hoping to return home and be reunited with her husband, the Sultan, whom she had not seen in 11 months.

“I will stay here, as close as possible to the Israeli checkpoint. For months, my daughters have been waiting for the moment to meet their father. I want to be among the first to return to Gaza,” she said.

Qatari and Egyptian mediators are making progress in their efforts to allow hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to the north.

But Israeli tanks still blocked the coastal road where people were supposed to walk in the north.

The Israelis asked for proof of life from Hamas for Ms. Yehud, and Hamas appears to have given this to the Egyptians.

Four Israeli soldiers who were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023 were released on Saturday as part of a ceasefire agreement that also saw the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners.

Meanwhile, many Ghazans are anxiously watching any breakthrough that could allow them to return.

For many, the hope of return outweighs the reality of what lies ahead – ruins and devastation.

However, the dream of reclaiming their lives, rebuilding their homes and reuniting with their families keeps their spirits alive.