Qatar announced early Monday morning that a deal had been reached between Israel and Hamas that would allow Palestinians who have been forcibly displaced from northern Gaza to return to the ruins of their homes and pass through the Israeli-controlled Netzarim Corridor.
Qatar, which has been mediating talks, said that Hamas will release a female civilian hostage, Arbel Yehoud, and two other captives before Friday, and in exchange, Israel will allow Palestinians to travel to the north.
Thousands of Palestinians have been waiting to cross through the Netzarim Corridor, but Israeli troops have continued to block them from traveling, which Hamas said was a violation of the ceasefire agreement. On Sunday, Israeli troops opened fire on a crowd of Palestinians hoping to return north, killing at least two and injuring nine.
Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to allow Palestinians to return to north Gaza on Saturday. But Israeli officials claimed that was only under the condition that Yehoud would be released. Hamas released four female IDF soldiers on Saturday in exchange for the release of 200 Palestinians from Israeli prisons.
In the months leading up to the ceasefire, Israeli forces almost completely destroyed the northern cities of Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun, and Jabalia as part of a campaign that involved a starvation blockade to force all Palestinian civilians out of the area. The vast majority of the Palestinians heading north will likely find their homes destroyed.
Axios recently reported that the checkpoint at the Netzarim Corridor will be manned by armed US private security contractors in an operation involving two American companies: Safe Reach Solutions (SRS) and US Solutions. An Egyptian company will also be part of the operation, which will involve searching Palestinians headed north for weapons.
One of the American companies, SRS, which was credited with drafting the plan for the Gaza checkpoint, was founded by Phil Reily, a former CIA official who once led the agency’s paramilitary wing, according to All-Source Intelligence. Reily was also the head of the CIA’s Afghanistan nation from 2008-2009.
I think it is clear that the will of the Palestinians of Gaza has overcome the military might of Israel. Imagine from the "General's plan" of ethnic cleansing to the Gazans walking back to their destroyed homes in Northern Gaza. That is incredible human resilience.
That is the Sign of Victory…!
Of course, after an attempt at ethnic cleansing. They are indigenous to the land. The land expels the those that are alien to it.
"I think it is clear that the will of the Palestinians of Gaza has overcome the military might of Israel: I will give you that for this war. Of course 50,000 Palestinians lost their lives, maybe million people lost their homes, all the Palestinians leaders who started this war are dead and 100,000 Palestinians (the rich ones) fled Gaza. But I will give credit to the Palestinians who were willing to pay the price. Not sure what they have gain.
Keep this in mind, just because Palestinians won this war, that does not meant they will win the next one. The next leader of Israel may not make all the mistakes the current leaders made.
The next war:
Israel 8 Million
Surrounding Countries 114 million
An Israeli would have to kill 14 Arabs without getting killed in the process.
@warsrus:disqus@robertscheetz:disqus
Assumingly expert at torture.
The IDF and US mercs. A distinction without a difference.