IOF failure to withdraw from Netzarim puts agreement at risk: Source
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Hamas accuses "Israel" of stalling in fulfilling the terms of the ceasefire agreement and the prisoner exchange, citing the prevention of displaced residents from returning to northern Gaza.
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Palestinians wait next to their belongings in central Gaza, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, as the Israeli military is warning Palestinians not to return to northern Gaza (AP)
The Israeli occupation forces' failure to withdraw from the so-called Netzarim axis, southwest of Gaza City, so far "threatens to halt the implementation of other provisions of the agreement," a commander in the Palestinian Resistance warned in a statement to Al Mayadeen.
On its part, the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, accused the Israeli occupation of stalling in fulfilling the terms of the ceasefire agreement and the prisoner exchange, citing the continued closure of al-Rashid Street and the prevention of displaced residents from returning to northern Gaza.
Hamas held "Israel" responsible for any delays in executing the agreement and the resulting repercussions on its subsequent phases.
This development follows an earlier expectation that occupation forces would begin withdrawing from Netzarim an hour after the completion of the prisoner exchange on Saturday. The exchange was part of the second round of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, according to another senior Palestinian official who spoke to Al Mayadeen earlier on Saturday.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians gathered near Netzarim, awaiting permission to return to northern Gaza as stipulated by the agreement. This came after the al-Qassam Brigades handed over the second batch of Israeli captives, which comprised four female soldiers, to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
A couple of hours later, the Israeli occupation freed 200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including individuals serving life sentences and those with lengthy prison terms in Israeli prisons.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, the first phase of the deal—comprising three stages—is expected to last six weeks. It involves the release of 33 Israeli captives in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
In the initial round of exchanges, conducted on the first day of the agreement's implementation, the Palestinian Resistance handed over three Israeli female captives in return for the Israeli occupation releasing 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including women and children.
On Monday, a senior source within the Resistance leadership highlighted in a statement to Al Mayadeen "several Israeli violations of the agreement, including surveillance drone activity and shootings targeting civilians," warning that such breaches, particularly the shootings, put the agreement at risk.
The ceasefire agreement in Gaza between the Palestinian Resistance and the Israeli occupation came into effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025. However, the occupation breached the agreement shortly thereafter, resulting in fatalities and injuries.
Abu Obeida, the military spokesperson for Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades, has made it clear that the movement's commitment to the ceasefire is contingent on the enemy’s adherence to the agreement.
High-level Hamas, PIJ delegations to welcome freed prisoners
In separate statements, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement confirmed that high-level delegations from the groups will head to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to hold talks with Egyptian officials and welcome the deported Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
A senior Palestinian official informed Al Mayadeen that Algeria, Tunisia, and Turkiye are ready to receive Palestinian detainees who were released on the condition of deportation outside Palestine, however, they must first travel to Egypt.
According to Reuters, citing Palestinian officials, around 70 have been deported to Egypt, another 16 were sent to Gaza, while the remaining detainees will be released to the occupied West Bank.
