US official says Israel agreed to unrestricted return of Palestinians to northern Gaza

Israel agreed to the hostage deal proposal on the table that would allow for the unrestricted return of Palestinians to northern Gaza, a senior Biden administration official tells reporters in a briefing.

The official was asked about comments from Hamas officials claiming that Israel has refused this demand. In the past, Israel had indeed indicated resistance to the unrestricted return of Palestinians to areas the IDF cleared in northern Gaza, due to fears that it would lead to a resurgence of Hamas.

But the senior administration official says Israel has in fact agreed to an unrestricted return as part of the hostage deal that Hamas has rejected.

The official clarifies that the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza would not be immediate as conditions have to be put in place over the first several weeks of the ceasefire to ensure the safety of civilians, given the level of destruction. “That means shelter, that means assistance, that means a UN mission to make sure things are ready.”