Israel would allow 150,000 Palestinians to return to northern Gaza in temporary truce deal – report

File: Palestinians try to cross back into northern Gaza as an Israeli tank blocks the Salah al-Din road in the central Gaza Strip on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, as the temporary ceasefire goes into effect. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
File: Palestinians try to cross back into northern Gaza as an Israeli tank blocks the Salah al-Din road in the central Gaza Strip on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, as the temporary ceasefire goes into effect. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

Israel has agreed in truce and hostage release deal talks taking place in Cairo to concessions on the return of Palestinians to the north of the enclave, but believes the Hamas terror organization does not want to strike a deal, Israeli officials say.

Two officials with knowledge of the talks say 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 say, Hamas would be required to give a list of female, elderly and sick hostages it still holds alive.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declines to comment, and 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 say.

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