Hamas says return of Gazans to north victory against displacement ‘plans’

Hamas said Monday that the return of Gazans to the north of the devastated territory after being forced to flee by more than 15 months of war was a victory against “plans” for the forced displacement of the Palestinians.

“The return of the displaced is a victory for our people, and signals the failure and defeat of the plans for occupation and displacement,” the militant group said as thousands of Gazans streamed northward after Israel stopped blocking their passage. Hamas’s ally Islamic Jihad called it a “response to all those who dream of displacing our people.”