Thousands Of Palestinians Return To Northern Gaza Via Netzarim Corridor

Thousands of Palestinians from the evacuation began returning to northern Gaza using various vehicles on Monday (27/1/2025) via the Netzarim Corridor, ANTARA

GAZA CITY - Thousands of Palestinians from the evacuation began returning to northern Gaza using various vehicles on Monday (27/1) via the Netzarim Corridor, which separates the southern and northern regions of Gaza, according to local residents' testimonies.

The vehicle carrying refugees and their belongings began to cross the Netzarim Corridor via Jalan Salah al-Din, after undergoing a security check, an eye witness told Anadolu.

This happened hours after tens of thousands of Palestinians returned on foot via Al-Rashid Street on the coast to northern Gaza under a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Vehicles were supposed to start passing through the Netzarim Corridor at 09.00 local time (07.00 GMT), but the trip was delayed as the technical team in charge of conducting the inspection arrived late, according to Anadolu's report.

According to the ceasefire agreement, vehicles passing through the Netzarim Corridor must go through an X-ray scanner before being allowed to enter northern Gaza.

According to Israeli media reports, Walla, last Thursday, two American companies and an Egyptian company managed the mechanism to facilitate the return of Palestinians fleeing to northern Gaza and maintaining security.

The return of Palestinians comes hours after Qatar mediated an agreement between Hamas and Israel, in which Hamas agreed to release Israeli prisoner Arbel Badminton, along with two other prisoners, on Friday.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement lasted for six weeks and took effect on January 19.

The ceasefire halted a massive Israeli offensive that has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, the majority of women and children, and injured more than 111,000 people since October 7, 2023.

So far, seven Israeli prisoners, including four soldiers, have been released in exchange for 290 Palestinian prisoners since the agreement was enacted.

Israeli attacks have left more than 11,000 people missing, as well as the massive destruction and humanitarian crisis that claimed the lives of many elderly and children. This is one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world.

In November last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Israeli Authority Leader Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli defense authority Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also facing a genocide lawsuit at the International Court (ICJ) over a war launched in the region.