Israel has begun letting Palestinians back into the Gaza Strip as part of a cease-fire deal. Thousands of Palestinians have returned to the northern part of the Gaza Strip, where 2.3 million people lived before the war.
Israel has begun letting Palestinians who were forced from their homes in the northern Gaza Strip during the war back into the area. The move follows a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hamas movement brokered by the US, Egypt and Qatar. However, the implementation of the ceasefire was complicated by disputes regarding the exchange of hostages.
Hamas recently handed over a list of hostages, according to which 25 of the original 33 to be released are alive. At the same time, Israel demands clear information about the condition of the hostages and accuses Hamas of not complying with the agreement.
Despite the disputes, thousands of Palestinians have begun to leave the central and southern parts of the Gaza Strip and return to the north, where about 2.3 million people lived before the war. However, traces of the extensive destruction caused by the fighting are still visible at the site.
The ceasefire, which came into effect on January 19, includes the gradual release of hostages. So far, Hamas has released several women and girls, for which Israel has freed 90 Palestinian prisoners and juveniles.
However, according to experts, the situation is still very fragile. Political geographer Vladimír Baar points out that Hamas is testing the extent to which it can violate agreements. Any further disagreements could once again threaten the fragile peace in the region.
