A statement attributed to Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi about the return of displaced persons to the northern Gaza Strip has spread on social media. The claim reads: “Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi Hamas to Al-Sharq newspaper: The matter has been resolved and the displaced persons will return starting tonight to the northern Gaza Strip via Rashid Street.”
Kashif verified the information and found that the statement was fabricated. Mardawi denied the statement to Kashif, and confirmed that it was forged and aimed at “confusing and playing with the nerves of citizens.”
Kashif also searched the official websites of Al-Sharq newspaper and did not find any mention of Mahmoud Mardawi’s statement about the return of displaced persons to the northern Gaza Strip.
The latest statement by Hamas regarding the return of displaced persons was on 26/1/2025: “Hamas is following up with mediators the occupation’s prevention of the return of the displaced from the south to the north, which represents a violation and breach of the ceasefire agreement.” The movement added: “The occupation is stalling under the pretext of the prisoner Arbel Yehud, even though the movement informed the mediators that she is alive and gave all the necessary guarantees for her release.”
On 26/1/2025, Al-Quds Brigades, affiliated with the Islamic Jihad Movement, announced that it had delivered guarantees to the mediators confirming that Israeli prisoner, Arbel Yehud, is alive and in good health, while the date of her release has not yet been set.
The Israeli occupation stipulated that Hamas release prisoner Arbel Yehud in the Gaza Strip in order to allow the displaced to return from the south of the Strip to its north via the Rashid Street axis within the framework of the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.
The spokesperson of the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majed Al-Ansari, announced via his account on “X” that an understanding had been reached between Israel and Hamas, which stipulates that “Hamas will hand over the hostage Arbel Yehuda and two hostages before next Friday, and Hamas will also hand over 3 additional hostages on Saturday according to the agreement, in addition to providing information about the number of hostages who will be released within the framework of the first phase of the agreement.”
He added, “In return, the Israeli authorities will allow, starting Monday morning, the return of displaced citizens in the Gaza Strip from the south to the northern areas of the Strip, and will also hand over a list of the names of 400 people who have been arrested since 7/10/2023, every Sunday in the first phase.”
| Sources of Claim | Sources of Verification |
| Manar Majed Monmon Alkhodary | Mahmoud Mardawi Hamas Movement Al-Quds Brigades Spokesman for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majed Al-Ansari Dunya Al-Watan |