Israel blocks Palestinians returning home to northern Gaza
Palestinians are unable to return to their homes as Israel refuses to open crossing points, accusing Hamas of breaching the ceasefire
Tens of thousands of Palestinians waited at roadblocks to return to their homes in northern Gaza on Sunday, voicing frustration after Israel accused Hamas of breaching a ceasefire agreement and refused to open crossing points.
A day after a second exchange of Israeli hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, the hold-up underlined the risks hanging over the truce between the militant group and Israel, long-time adversaries in a series of Gaza wars.
US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, will travel to Israel on Wednesday to oversee the Gaza ceasefire, Israel’s Channel 13 reported on Sunday, citing two Israeli officials.
In central Gaza, columns of people were waiting along the main roads leading north, some in vehicles and some on foot, witnesses said.
“A sea of people is waiting for a signal to move back to Gaza City and the north, people are fed up and they want to go home,” asked Tamer Al-Burai, a displaced person from Gaza City. “This is the deal that was signed, isn’t it?”
“Many of those people have no idea whether their houses back home are still standing. But they want to go regardless, they want to put up the tents next to the rubble of their houses, they want to feel home,” he told reporters via a chat app.