Israel will “soon” allow the return of communities located between 4 and 7 kilometers from Gaza

Israel assured this Monday that it will “soon” allow the return of residents of Israeli communities adjacent to the northern area of Link who were evacuated after the Hamas attack on October 7 and the outbreak of war.

“In accordance with the recommendations given by the Israeli Army and the Defense apparatus, we will soon be able to (allow) the return” of members of the communities who were displaced “in areas within a radius of four to seven kilometers north of the Strip”, said the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who visited the area.

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Questioned by EFE, a Defense spokesperson did not specify an exact date for the return of residents from these locations.

Around 18,000 inhabitants of 29 cities located between four and seven kilometers from Gaza were relocated to other parts of the country, according to official data.

Likewise, 31,000 residents of the Israeli city of Sderot, very close to Gaza, were sent to another location, joined by 16,000 inhabitants from 25 communities almost touching the enclave, just between zero and four kilometers away.

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These places were most affected by the Hamas attack almost three months ago, which took Israel by surprise and left around 1,200 people dead, as well as at least 240 people taken hostage and taken to Gaza. More than a hundred of them – as well as the bodies of more than twenty kidnapped people who have already died – remain in the Strip.

In total, the Israelis who lived near the Strip and had to be evacuated numbered around 65,000, most of them now living in guesthouses or hotels in other parts of the country.

Today’s announcement from the Minister of Defense appears to be a step forward towards the return of some of them, but it will only affect a relatively small proportion of evacuees and there is no clear date. Meanwhile, Israeli troops continue to fight fierce battles against Palestinian militants inside Gaza, and the Army hopes to progressively reduce the intensity of its offensive during 2024.

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Gallant said today that the process will be “a gradual return, starting a first phase with communities within a radius of seven kilometers, and then moving on to the remaining communities”.

Troops are fighting in Gaza with the aim of putting “life back on track” in Israeli communities near the enclave, many of which were destroyed or suffered serious material damage after the Hamas attack that caused massacres on October 7, he added.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.