Israel-Hamas ceasefire live updates: Israeli security cabinet voting on deal
NBCJan 15
Palestinians Return to Northern Gaza
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Above: Thousands of displaced Palestinians walk towards their homes in northern Gaza, via the Netzarim Corridor, during the ceasefire in central Gaza on Jan. 27, 2025. Image copyright: Ahmad Salem/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Facts
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians streamed into northern Gaza on Monday after the Netzarim Corridor — a strip of land occupied by Israel that bisects the strip — was opened. The corridor was originally set to open on Sunday as part of the first phase of the cease-fire agreement.
Netzarim's opening was delayed due to disagreements around Arbel Yehud, a female civilian hostage Israel said it expected to be released last week. Qatar helped resolve the dispute, with Hamas agreeing to release Yehud as well as female soldier Agam Berger and another hostage on Thursday.
Cars entering northern Gaza are being inspected on the Salah al-Din road by Egyptian contractors alongside a US firm, according to an anonymous Egyptian official. An Israeli official said the vehicle checkpoint is designed to stop heavy arms flowing to northern Gaza.
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
Allowing Palestinians to return to the north will only make it more difficult for Israel to resume the war if it needs to. Keeping civilians out of the north was Israel's most significant bargaining chip and it has now been conceded. Israel now has fewer options, and it's becoming ever-clearer that the war is largely over with Hamas still in power.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Though Israel worked for over a year to ethnically cleanse northern Gaza to make way for Jewish settlements, Palestinians have again thwarted attempts to indefinitely displace them. Despite the brutal realities of this genocidal war, Palestinians have expressed joy that they can finally return to what is left of their homes. Indeed, Palestinians will continue fighting for their freedom.
