Israel Defense Forces on Thursday denied reports that its troops are evicting Palestinians from their homes in northern Gaza with the intention of permanently blocking their return.

“The statement attributed to the IDF in the last 24 hours that northern Gaza residents would not be allowed to return to their homes is false and does not reflect the IDF's goals,” it said in a statement to ABC News.

“Contrary to reports, the IDF will continue to allow humanitarian assistance into the north of the Gaza Strip and will also allow the entry of relief supplies into the Jabalia area,” they added.

The IDF statement was in response to a Wednesday report in The Guardian newspaper – which was traced to an IDF briefing seen in the Israeli newspaper Kan News – that IDF Brig. General Itzik Cohen told Israeli reporters that there is “no intention to allow residents of the northern Gaza Strip to return to their homes” as troops were twice forced to enter some areas in the northern Gaza Strip, such as the Jabalia camp.

Cohen reportedly added that no humanitarian aid would be allowed into the northern areas because there were “no civilians left.”

An Israeli admission of the deliberate permanent displacement of Palestinians and the use of food as a weapon would be very significant. Palestinian officials and NGOs have accused the IDF of both actions throughout the war in Gaza.

“The IDF is operating in the Jabalia area to attack Hamas infrastructure in the area and is engaging in intense fighting, eliminating many terrorists and destroying Hamas' military infrastructure, both above and below ground “The IDF said in its statement on Thursday.

-Guy Davies from ABC News