An agreement has been reached on the release of three Israeli hostages and the return of displaced Palestinians to the north of the Gaza Strip. That reported the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late on Sunday evening. After mediation by Qatar and Egypt, Hamas promised to release Arbel Yehoud for Friday the year and a half ago, just like the female Israeli military Agam Berger and an unknown other hostage.
In fact, the yehoud held by Islamic jihad would be released this weekend, but according to Hamas there was “a technical problem.” That is why Israel refused to open the Netzarim corridor, the border between the south and the north of the Gaza Strip. The tens of thousands of Gazans who gathered at that border crossing this weekend are allowed back home with the now closed deal from this Monday morning.
Since the start of the Stakes-Fires last Sunday, Hamas has released seven hostages so far and Israel has more than two hundred Palestinian prisoners.