The civilian, Arbel Yehud, should have been among the first two groups of hostages released on Jan. 19 and Jan. 25 under the cease-fire deal, according to the Israeli authorities.

Israel allowed displaced Gazans to begin crossing a military zone that bisects the enclave after a deadlock over hostage releases was broken.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians streamed along the main roads leading north in Gaza on Monday after Hamas agreed to hand over three Israeli hostages later this week and Israeli forces began to withdraw from a main corridor across the enclave.