Israeli authorities have refused to allow return of Palestinian residents to northern Gaza until Israeli captive Arbel Yehud is released
The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad movement, said Sunday that they have taken steps to eliminate Israeli pretexts to obstruct the return of forcibly displaced Palestinians from southern Gaza to the north.
Israel “deliberately disrupts the lives of our people and takes away their joy. We have taken the necessary measures to remove the excuses fabricated by the enemy to block the return of our people to northern Gaza,” the brigades said in a statement on Telegram.
"The mediators (Egypt and Qatar) have received guarantees confirming that the Zionist captive Arbel Yehud is alive and in good health,” they added.
"The timing and agreement decided by the political leadership of the movement with the mediators regarding the release of Arbel Yehud will be implemented.”
Israeli authorities have refused to allow the return of Palestinian residents to northern Gaza until Yehud is released.
The Palestinian group Hamas confirmed that the civilian hostage would be released in the next prisoner and hostage swap.
The first six-week phase of the agreement took effect on Jan. 19, suspending Israel's genocidal war that has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and injured more than 111,000 since Oct. 7, 2023.
Seven Israeli captives, including four soldiers, have so far been released in return for 290 Palestinian prisoners since the deal came into force.
The Israeli onslaught has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala
