Islam Times - Palestinians Can Begin Returning to Northern Gaza after Prisoner Swap Progress

Islam Times - Palestinians displaced from northern Gaza could begin returning on Monday, following an agreement to release Israeli captive Arbel Yehud, as confirmed by the Islamic Jihad movement.

Israeli authorities had previously barred hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza, citing the continued detention of Yehud.

On Sunday, Islamic Jihad spokesman Mohammed Al-Hajj Musa announced that a deal had been reached regarding her release.

The office of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on the same day that an agreement had also been made with Hamas for the release of six additional captives.

"After firm negotiations, Israel will allow Gaza residents to cross into the northern part of the Strip starting tomorrow morning," Netanyahu's office stated.

It added, "An additional phase of prisoner releases will be implemented next Thursday, during which Arbel Yehud, Agam Berger, and another prisoner will be released, and next Saturday three more prisoners will be released. Israel also received from Hamas a list of the status of all prisoners in the first phase."

The announcement preserves a fragile ceasefire in the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza, which has devastated the territory and displaced nearly all of its residents.

Israel had previously prevented large numbers of Palestinians from using a coastal road to return to northern Gaza.

Separately, resistance groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad condemned a controversial proposal by US President Donald Trump to "clean out" Gaza and relocate its residents to neighboring countries.

Speaking aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump suggested relocating Gaza's population to Egypt and Jordan.

"You're talking about probably a million and half people ... I'd like Egypt to take people. And I'd like Jordan to take people," he said. "(W)e just clean out that whole thing," he added.

Trump mentioned plans to discuss the matter with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi on Sunday.

The suggestion drew condemnation from Palestinian leaders and residents, who likened it to the "Nakba" or catastrophe, a historical period marked by the mass displacement of Palestinians during Israel's establishment.