Delayed by a dispute over the release of a specific hostage, an agreement has been reached to allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza.

Israel and Hamas reached a deal to resolve a disagreement over the exchange of a female civilian hostage that had threatened to derail the truce. Lebanon, however, saw the deadliest day since Israel’s truce with Hezbollah took effect.

This will be the fourth hostage release since the ceasefire deal was agreed on 19 January, with more Palestinian prisoners expected to be freed.

Hamas wants to send the world the message that it is still in charge in the Gaza Strip. Its method: turning the release of hostages into a spectacle that Israel is powerless to stop. The pattern began about two weeks ago,

Hamas is set to release its first American hostage from captivity in Gaza on Saturday. After being held hostage by the terrorist organization for nearly 16 months, American Israeli Keith Siegel, originally from Chapel Hill,