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

The office of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’ has said that displaced Palestinians will not be allowed to return to northern Gaza until the civilian hostage Arbel Yehoud is released by Hamas.

The Israelis said Yehoud should have been released by Hamas this week in the latest hostage and prisoner exchange.

A senior Hamas official said Yehoud will be released next week, but gave no reasons for the apparent delay.

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

Wadi Gaza is the stream and wetlands that divide the north from the rest of the strip.

"I am waiting moment by moment. The coming hours separate us from our return to northern Gaza. I am waiting for permission so I can search for my son who was killed in the war and give him a proper burial," said one Palestinian woman.

The Israeli military withdrawing from populated areas and allowing displaced Palestinians to return home is one of the points agreed to in the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas which came into effect on 19 January.

Another part of the ceasefire deal was the exchange of Hamas hostages for Palestinian prisoners. According to the terms of the agreement, during the six-week first phase of the deal, Hamas will release 33 hostages in return for hundreds of Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons.

On Saturday, the second such exchange took place when Hamas released Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag, all female Israeli soldiers.

They were driven out of Gaza in Red Cross vehicles on Saturday morning and hours later 200 Palestinians were freed from prison.

"It is an indescribable feeling. We did not expect this situation and we did not expect my father to be