The Hamas movement announced on Sunday that it was following up with the mediators in the ceasefire agreement regarding Israel blocking the return of displaced people from the southern Gaza Strip to the north – a violation of the agreement.
Hundreds of Lebanese have rushed since Sunday morning – the deadline for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the border areas they penetrated during the war with Hezbollah – trying to enter border towns and villages from which the Israeli occupation army has not withdrawn, which opened fire on them.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said that at least 15 people were killed, including a Lebanese soldier, and dozens were wounded when Israeli occupation forces opened fire in several areas in southern Lebanon on residents who tried to return to their towns.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) called on the Israeli army on Sunday to avoid shooting at civilians inside Lebanese territory.
The Civil Defense in Gaza also announced on Sunday that Israel prevented tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians from returning from the south of the Strip to its north. It explained that the occupation army “is still closing the Netzarim Junction on al-Rashid Coastal Road.”
Hamas movement accused Israel of “delaying the return of the displaced from the south of Gaza Strip to its north, under the pretext of the prisoner Arbel Yehud.”
Al-Masry Al-Youm learned that Hamas, along with the Islamic Jihad Movement, are holding consultations with mediators to release the hostage Arbel Yehud within hours, in exchange for conditions set by Hamas before Israel, which included names of Palestinian prisoners.
Commenting on this, a researcher at the Al-Ahram Center for Political Studies Abeer Yassin said that though it is easy to write off Israel’s current behaviour as arrogance, he explained that it stems from overconfidence brought on by Western support, especially American, and the absence of accountability or impunity.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
