Netanyahu Announces Intention to Violate Ceasefire Deal, Blocks Return of Displaced Gazans to the North

Netanyahu Announces Intention to Violate Ceasefire Deal, Blocks Return of Displaced Gazans to the North

News January 25, 2025
Netanyahu Announces Intention to Violate Ceasefire Deal, Blocks Return of Displaced Gazans to the North
Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today that displaced Gazans will not be allowed to return to northern Gaza. This decision violates the ceasefire agreement, which stipulated the unrestricted return of one million displaced Gazans on Day 7 of the truce. The agreement required Israel to permit this return following the release of seven female soldiers and settlers—four of whom were freed today, with three released last Sunday. Netanyahu’s office claimed the ban on movement would remain until the release of Israeli settler Arbel Yehud. Netanyahu alleged that Yehud was captured by Palestinian resistance and was supposed to be freed today.

Resistance Groups Respond

A senior Hamas source told Al Jazeera that Arbel Yehud is alive and will be released next Saturday as part of the ongoing prisoner exchange. Meanwhile, an Islamic Jihad official revealed that Yehud is held by Saraya al-Quds, Islamic Jihad’s military wing. The official clarified that Yehud is not a civilian but a trained member of the Israeli army’s space program. “Her release will occur under the agreed terms of the prisoner exchange,” the source confirmed. Israel has intensified efforts to classify Yehud as a civilian rather than a soldier. Under the prisoner exchange deal, 50 Palestinian prisoners are released for each captured Israeli soldier, while only 30 are freed for each Israeli settler (civilian). By labeling Yehud as a civilian, Israel aims to reduce the number of Palestinian detainees it must release. Palestinian officials and mediators have condemned Israel’s latest actions. They stated that Netanyahu is exploiting the terms of the deal to delay the return of displaced Gazans and manipulate the exchange process.  

Also Read

Gateway to an Open-Air Prison: Israel Reopens Rafah Crossing After Two Years of Genocide in Gaza
News
Gateway to an Open-Air Prison: Israel Reopens Rafah Crossing After Two Years of Genocide in Gaza

Palestinians have condemned the fenced Rafah crossing, describing it as a “gateway to an open-air prison.”

Israel Outlaws MSF in Gaza After Refusing to Give Palestinian Staff List Over Safety Concerns
News
Israel Outlaws MSF in Gaza After Refusing to Give Palestinian Staff List Over Safety Concerns

Israel said it has terminated the humanitarian activities in Gaza of Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, after it refused to provide a list of its Palestinian staff over concerns for their safety and a lack of assurances on how the information would be used by Israel.

Encyclopaedia Britannica Erases Israel From Children’s History Lessons, Replaces It With Palestine
News
Encyclopaedia Britannica Erases Israel From Children’s History Lessons, Replaces It With Palestine

Encyclopaedia Britannica removed Israel from its educational materials for children and replaced it with Palestine. Following pressure from a pro-Israel lawyers’ group, Britannica reverted to using Israel.