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

10/4/2024 20:07

        Israel has agreed in Gaza war ceasefire talks in Egypt to concessions about the return of Palestinians to the north of the enclave, but believes Islamist group Hamas does not want to strike a deal, Israeli officials said on Wednesday.
        
        Two officials with knowledge of the talks said that under a U.S. 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 Eqyptian 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.