Israel stops Palestinians returning to north Gaza until Hamas releases civilian hostage

Hundreds of Palestinians began gathering in Wadi Gaza on Saturday hoping to cross back to their homes into the northern part of the Strip.

Transcript

00:00Israel authorities say displaced Palestinians won't be allowed to return to northern Gaza

00:07until a civilian hostage held by Hamas is released.

00:11Israel said Abel Yehud should have been released by Hamas this week.

00:15A senior official for the militant group said Yehud would be released next week, but gave

00:19no reasons for the apparent delay.

00:22Hundreds of Palestinians began gathering in central Gaza on Saturday, hoping to return

00:27to their homes in the north.

00:28The IDF withdrawing from populated areas to allow Palestinians to return home is one

00:34of the points agreed to in the ceasefire which came into effect on the 19th of January.

00:39Another part of the deal is the exchange of Hamas hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

00:44On Saturday, the second such exchange took place when Hamas released Karina Ariev, Daniela

00:49Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag, all female Israeli soldiers.

00:54Hours later, 200 Palestinians were freed from Israeli prisons.