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

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, Times of Israel report citing Israeli officials.

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 declined to comment, and Hamas said on April 9 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 assesses that Hamas does not want to strike a deal yet, the two Israeli officials say.