ALBAWABA - According to Axios, senior Israeli officials stated that Israel will not allow the return of residents of northern Gaza to their homes unless Hamas agrees to release more Israeli hostages hostages.
Upon his arrival in Israel, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to hold talks with Israeli officials in hopes of making progress toward the return of Palestinians to their homes and ensuring they are not forcibly displaced from Gaza, Axios reported.
During a press conference with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Blinken said "Palestinian civilians must be able to return home as soon as conditions allow,".
The Israeli sources told Axios that while Israel doesn't in principle oppose allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, officials will tell Blinken such a move needs to be part of a new hostage deal.
"We are not going to allow Palestinians to go back to their homes in northern Gaza if there is no progress with the release of hostages," one senior Israeli official told Axios.
Blinken said on Sunday that the IDF's transition to a lower-intensity phase of its military operation will allow the UN to evaluate what needs to be done to allow displaced Palestinians to return to the north.
Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israel
Hamas military group announced on Oct. 7 a military operation called "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel which is the biggest offensive in decades.
Palestinian fighters “infiltrated” Israel from the Gaza Strip and captured military bases and took hostages as photos and videos went viral online showing Hamas fighters on vehicles inside Israel and others paragliding into occupation territory.
In response, Israeli armed forces announced targeting Hamas positions inside the Gaza Strip. Thousands were killed, and dozens of thousands of others were injured in the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
