Gaza ceasefire: Huge crowds await return to north after delays

Israel says it will not open a key road until plans are in place for the release of an Israeli civilian.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersHuge crowds await return to northern Gaza after delays2 hours agoRushdi AbualoufBBC News Gaza correspondentReporting fromIstanbulReutersArmed Hamas police officers Thousands of displaced Palestinians attempting to reach northern Gaza have gathered at an Israeli military barrier which is blocking their progress.

Images showed massive crowds waiting to pass the Netzarim Corridor, a road which separates north and south Gaza and is controlled by Israeli troops.

Israel was scheduled to withdraw its forces from the area this weekend but they remained after the government accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire agreement.

Israel said it would continue to block the route to northern Gaza because Arbel Yehud, a female civilian hostage, was not released on Saturday. Hamas responded by providing proof she is alive and said she would be released next weekend.

On Saturday, Hamas freed four Israeli female soldiers it had held hostage since 7 October 2023, in return for 200 Palestinian prisoners. Ms Yehud, a non-military hostage, was scheduled to be freed first.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9qjy4lzqn3o

---