Hundreds of displaced Palestinians spent night in open while awaiting permission to return home, according to witnesses
Two Palestinians were killed and seven others, including a child, injured on Sunday by Israeli gunfire in the Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire agreement in the enclave, medics said.A young Palestinian was killed and two others were injured west of the Nusairat refugee camp in central Gaza, a medical source said.A young man was also shot and killed by Israeli forces in central Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, he added.Israeli army forces also opened fire on a group of displaced civilians waiting to be allowed to return to northern Gaza, injuring five people, including a child, another medical source said.According to witnesses, hundreds of displaced civilians had spent the night in the open in the cold winter as they waited an Israeli permission to return to their areas in northern Gaza.Witnesses said Israeli military vehicles positioned along the Netzarim Corridor, which separates northern and southern Gaza, opened fire on a group of displaced people as they waited for the army to withdraw and allow them to return to the north under the ceasefire agreement.Israeli authorities have refused to allow the return of Palestinian residents to northern Gaza until Israeli captive Arbel Yehud is released. Hamas confirmed that the hostage would be released in the next swap.The first six-week phase of the agreement took effect 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 Ikram Kouachi
