Hamas Says Rafah Crossing To Reopen Next Week After Truce As 200,000 Return To Northern Gaza

GAZA, Oct 11 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Mediators have informed Hamas that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will reopen in both directions next week, the group said on Friday, following the start of a ceasefire with Israel, reported Xinhua.

A Hamas source told the group's Al-Aqsa TV that the crossing is expected to reopen in the middle of next week to allow movement of people in and out of the enclave, though no details were provided on operations or which travellers would be allowed through.

Mediators also said humanitarian aid and essential supplies, including fuel and gas, would begin entering Gaza freely from Saturday, the source said, adding that talks were under way to restore electricity in the territory of more than 2 million people.

The announcement came after the Israeli army confirmed that a ceasefire with Hamas took effect at noon on Friday. The military said its forces had redeployed along new lines "in accordance with the ceasefire and hostage-release agreement", while troops in southern Israel would continue to respond to any immediate threats.

Following the truce, about 200,000 Palestinians returned to northern Gaza, said Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the Hamas-run Civil Defence Agency. He said displaced residents began moving north as Israeli forces pulled back from several areas, and that humanitarian teams were helping families and reopening main roads.

Eyewitnesses reported heavy movement along Al-Rashid and Salah al-Din roads as thousands of people walked or drove toward their homes.

The ceasefire followed days of negotiations in Egypt that included a prisoner exchange and plans to reopen border crossings and allow aid into Gaza.

Under the agreement, Israel is expected to halt fighting and partially withdraw from the Gaza Strip, while Hamas will release all remaining hostages in exchange for the release of around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Two years of Israeli military operations have left much of Gaza in ruins, killed more than 67,000 people, and created severe shortages of food and basic supplies, according to Gaza health authorities.  

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA