Israel Blocks Gazans From North, Accusing Hamas of Cease-Fire Breach

Israeli troops were preventing Palestinians from returning to their homes in the north of the Gaza Strip on Sunday after Israel accused Hamas of violating the terms of the cease-fire agreement.

Under the terms of the initial phase of the deal agreed earlier this month, Israel had been expected to withdraw some of its forces to allow hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans to head north after a hostage and prisoner exchange on Saturday.

But Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, accused Hamas on Saturday of violating the deal by not returning captive Israeli civilians first. Israeli officials said that under the agreement, Arbel Yehud, an Israeli held hostage in Gaza, was supposed to be one of the four women released on Saturday.

The hostages released were all soldiers who had been lookouts at a base on the Gaza border and were abducted from there on Oct. 7, 2023, during the Hamas-led attack on Israel that began the war.

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said that it would not allow Gazans to head north “until the release of the civilian Arbel Yehud has been arranged,” leaving the timing of the troop withdrawal and the residents’ return unclear.

Hamas accused Israel of hesitating to fully implement the cease-fire agreement. The dispute is one of the most significant between the parties since the cease-fire took effect after 15 months of devastating war.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.