Israel would let 150,000 Gazans return north in potential truce, officials say

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Israel has agreed in Gaza ceasefire talks in Egypt to concessions about the return of Palestinians to the north of the enclave, but believes Hamas does not want to strike a deal, Israeli officials say.

According to Reuters, two officials with knowledge of the talks said that under a US proposal for a truce, Israel would allow the return of 150,000 Palestinians to north Gaza with no security checks. In return, they said, Hamas would be required to give a list of female, elderly and sick hostages it still holds alive.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined to comment. Hamas said on Tuesday that the latest proposal passed on by Egyptian and Qatari mediators did not meet demands, but that it would study it further before responding.

Israel’s assessment is that Hamas does not want to strike a deal yet, the two Israeli officials said. In the seventh month of the conflict, Hamas wants an end to the Israeli military offensive, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and permission for displaced Palestinians to return home.

 Palestinian children pose for a picture on April 10 in the courtyard of Gaza City’s historic Omari Mosque, which has been heavily damaged in Israeli bombardment. — AFP
Palestinian children pose for a picture on April 10 in the courtyard of Gaza City’s historic Omari Mosque, which has been heavily damaged in Israeli bombardment. — AFP

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