Two killed and nine wounded as Israel opens fire on crowd near Netzarim corridor
As a fragile ceasefire in Gaza entered its second week on Sunday, two Palestinians were killed and nine others wounded after Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd gathered near the Netzarim corridor.
Tens of thousands of Gazans gathered Sunday at the Netzarim corridor, the border between southern and northern Gaza. They are not being allowed through by Israel because of a dispute over an unreleased hostage.
Two people were killed and nine wounded after Israeli forces opened fire on the crowd, local Palestinian health officials said Sunday. The corridor was supposed to open Sunday, allowing Gazans to return to their homes. But Israel claims Hamas violated the ceasefire by not releasing Arbel Yehud, a civilian hostage.
A Hamas leader, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the civilian hostage would be released in the third exchange, scheduled for February 1.
Hostage and prisoner exchanges
The first exchange, of three Israeli hostages for 90 Palestinian prisoners, took place on the first day of the ceasefire, January 19, in the devastated Palestinian territory, which is suffering a severe humanitarian crisis.
During the second exchange on Saturday, Daniella Gilboa, Karina Ariev, Liri Albag and Naama Levy, aged between 19 and 20, were presented on a stage in front of a crowd, surrounded by masked fighters from the military wing of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
The 15-month Israeli military offensive in Gaza has killed at least 47,283 people, mostly civilians. The war was triggered by a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that killed 1,210 Israelis.
Displaced Palestinians wait near the Netzarim corridor in hope of returning to their homes in northern Gaza, 26 January 2025 © PHOTO OMAR ASHTAWY APAIMAGES/APA IMAGES VIA ZUMA PRESS WIRE
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