Palestinians will not be allowed to return to homes in north Gaza, says IDF

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that its ground forces are moving towards the "complete evacuation" of northern Gaza, with no intention of allowing Palestintians to return to their homes. 

Brigadier General Itzik Cohen stated in a media briefing that areas like the Jabalia camp had been invaded multiple times by Israeli troops, and there are no plans to allow civilians to return to the northern Gaza Strip.

Humanitarian aid will be permitted to reach the southern part of Gaza, but not the north, as the Israel Defense Force (IDF) claims there are "no more civilians left" in the area.

This marks Israel’s first official acknowledgment of its systematic removal of Palestinians from northern Gaza. Humanitarian law experts have condemned such actions as potential war crimes, including forcible transfer and the use of food as a weapon.

Despite Israel's repeated denials of forcing civilians to flee, rights groups have suggested that Israel is following a plan to expel residents and treat those remaining as combatants. 

The situation has worsened for those still in northern Gaza, with conditions deteriorating as Israel continues its offensive against innocent civilians on the pretext of targeting Hamas.

The UN previously estimated that around 400,000 civilians were still in northern Gaza last month, unable or unwilling to comply with evacuation orders.

On Wednesday, social media footage showed displaced people heading south through devastated areas of Gaza City, carrying children and belongings.

The overall Palestinian death toll since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza has reached at least 44,167 with more than 100,833 wounded. Thousands more remain trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings.