Israel Blocks Thousands From Returning to Northern Gaza Amid Ceasefire Dispute

Thousands of displaced Palestinians were prevented from returning to their homes in northern Gaza on Sunday as Israel accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by altering the agreed-upon order of hostage releases. The situation quickly turned violent, with local health officials reporting Israeli forces fired on crowds attempting to move northward, leaving two dead and nine wounded.

Tensions also escalated on Israel’s northern border, where Israeli troops fired on protesters in Lebanon who were demanding a withdrawal in accordance with a separate ceasefire with Hezbollah. Lebanese health officials reported at least 22 fatalities and over 120 injuries. Israel, however, maintains that its forces will not withdraw until Lebanon deploys its own troops, while Lebanese authorities argue that deployment can only occur once Israeli forces have fully vacated the area.

Trump Suggests Resettling Gaza’s Population Elsewhere

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump stirred further controversy by proposing that much of Gaza’s population be temporarily relocated to neighboring Egypt and Jordan. He claimed this would help to “clean out” the devastated enclave. However, both Jordan and the Palestinian leadership swiftly rejected the idea, while Egypt, fearing that such a move might become permanent, reiterated its longstanding opposition to accepting refugees from Gaza.

Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim dismissed the suggestion, stating that Palestinians would “never accept displacement under the guise of reconstruction.” He insisted that Gaza could be rebuilt independently if Israel were to lift its long-standing blockade.

Ceasefire Tensions and Deadly Confrontations

Under the fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Palestinians were set to return to their homes in northern Gaza starting Saturday via the Netzarim corridor—a route controlled by Israeli forces that bisects the territory. However, Israel abruptly halted the process, citing Hamas’ failure to release an Israeli civilian hostage, Arbel Yehoud, whom Israel claimed was scheduled for release that same day. Hamas countered by accusing Israel of violating the agreement.

With the corridor still shut, crowds of displaced Palestinians carrying their belongings filled the roads leading to the closed Israeli checkpoint. Nadia Qasem, one of those seeking to return home, expressed her frustration: “We have suffered for a year and a half, and now we are being stopped again.”

Another displaced resident, Fadi al-Sinwar, lamented that an entire population’s fate had been tied to one hostage, stating, “See how valuable we are? We are worthless.”

Overnight and into Sunday, Israeli forces fired multiple times at the gathered crowds, killing two people and wounding at least nine, including a child, according to Al-Awda Hospital, which received the casualties.

Hostage and Prisoner Releases Under Ceasefire Deal

The ceasefire, which took effect last Sunday, has seen Israel withdraw from certain areas of Gaza while maintaining security control over a buffer zone along the border and the Netzarim corridor. Israel has warned civilians to keep their distance from its forces still operating in the area.

On Saturday, Hamas released four female Israeli soldiers in accordance with the ceasefire deal. In exchange, Israel freed approximately 200 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom were serving life sentences for attacks that resulted in fatalities. However, Israel accused Hamas of breaching the agreement by failing to release Arbel Yehoud, an Israeli civilian hostage, ahead of the soldiers.

With the ceasefire already under strain, the dispute over hostage releases and the prevention of displaced Palestinians from returning home threatens to unravel the fragile truce as tensions continue to mount in Gaza and beyond.