Netanyahu: We’ve disagreements with Washington and won’t allow the people of Gaza to return to the northern Gaza Strip and Gallant confirms the return to the cover settlements

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that he won’t allow the residents of Gaza to return to the northern Gaza Strip”.

Netanyahu added, in statements reported by Israeli media, that “there is no decision other than that, and our first mission is to return our citizens to the Gaza envelope,” adding that “there is no change in the firing orders and we act according to what our interests dictate and we have agreements and disagreements with Washington”.

The Israeli government is planning to resettle a large number of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip in Egypt under the pretext of ensuring their safety.

The source explained, “According to available information, the Israeli government is planning to resettle a large number of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Egypt under the pretext of ensuring their safety during the active phase of the military operation and the reconstruction of the Strip after the conflict”.

The source added, “In the first stage, we can talk about transferring at least 100,000 people to the territory of a neighboring country”.

The source pointed out, “In the future, it’s planned to deport several other batches of Gaza residents in this way… At the same time, it’s clear that West Jerusalem isn’t interested in their return”.

The source also confirmed that in order to ensure the approval of Cairo, which is currently categorically opposed to such a scenario, it aims to involve Washington.

For his part, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant announced, Monday, the start of the gradual return to the settlements around the Gaza Strip.

He said that some residents of the Israeli communities north of the Gaza Strip that were evacuated following the October 7 attack will be able to return in the near future as military operations progress.

He also added in a press conference that some residents of the communities that were evacuated in areas located within a range of four to seven kilometers north of the enclave will be able to return to their homes soon.

On the other hand, a large number of settlers in the Gaza Strip, who were displaced since the storming of Hamas forces on October 7, expressed their strong opposition to the idea of  return, despite the temptations of the Israeli government, according to what was reported by the Israeli Wala website.

The Israeli government announced that it would provide financial compensation to residents of the communities surrounding Gaza to return to their homes, but many of them still feel that the area is still unsafe, since the October 7 attack.

For his part, the mayor of Sderot told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “I postpone the decision… Whoever returns the population now will be responsible for a coming disaster”.

The mayor of Sderot, Alon Davidi, also joined the protest voices and took a clear stance against the incentives.

He said, “When I, as the mayor of Sderot, return my residents, to what reality will I return them?”

“If there are residents in the neighborhoods north of the Gaza Strip, there will also be terrorists there and then the threat of attacks will return,” he added.

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns around the Gaza Strip on October 7, which Israel says killed 1,200 people.

Hamas also took 240 hostages, while Israel believes that 129 are still being held in Gaza after a number of prisoners were released during a short truce and others were killed in air strikes, rescue attempts, or escape.

While Qatar and Egypt are seeking to negotiate to agree on a new prisoner deal.

The Palestinian health authorities in the Gaza Strip say that the Israeli attack led to the death of more than 21,978 people.