JAKARTA - Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday announced Palestinians could return to the northern Gaza Strip next week if the Hamas militant group complies with the ceasefire agreement.

"If Hamas complies with all details of the agreement, starting next week, residents of the Gaza Strip will be able to return to the northern Gaza Strip and instructions will be issued regarding this," said IDF Arabic spokesman Colonel Avichay Adraee in X, as quoted by The Times of Israel January 21.

The ceasefire and gradual release of hostages between Hamas and Israel took effect Sunday after several hours of delay. That followed the announcement of the deal last Wednesday, after negotiations with the mediation of Qatar, Egypt and the United States for months.

Under the agreement, on the seventh day of the ceasefire, unarmed Gazans will be allowed to return on foot to northern Gaza without any inspection, via coastal roads.

Meanwhile, vehicles returning to northern Gaza will be required to undergo inspection by private companies to be determined by mediators and Israel.

On the 22nd day, unarmed Palestinians who are expelled will be allowed to return to northern Gaza on foot via Jalan Salah a-Din, also without inspection.

This means the IDF will gradually withdraw from the Netzarim Corridor.

Colonel Adraee also warned Gazans not to approach the territory where troops are still deployed in Gaza, including the buffer zone along the border, the Netzarim Corridor in the central part of the Gaza Strip, the Philadelph Corridor on the Egypt-Gaza border and the sea.

Earlier, Hamas on Monday said that the release of the next Israeli hostages would be carried out in accordance with the agreement on Saturday, expected four hostages to be released, as quoted by Reuters, after previously reported there would be a day delay.


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