Israeli troops will remain in Gaza ‘security zones’ indefinitely – minister

Israel’s defence minister has said troops will remain in so-called security zones in Gaza indefinitely.

Israel Katz said Israeli forces “will remain in the security zones as a buffer between the enemy and (Israeli) communities in any temporary or permanent situation in Gaza”.

He said: “Unlike in the past, the (Israeli military) is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized.”

The military will remain in these “security zones” in any temporary or permanent situation in Gaza – “as in Lebanon and Syria”, Mr Katz added.

Israeli forces have taken over large areas of Gaza in recent weeks in a renewed campaign to pressure Hamas to release hostages after Israel ended their ceasefire last month.

Israel has also refused to withdraw from some areas in Lebanon following a ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group last year, and it seized a buffer zone in southern Syria after the overthrow of President Bashar Assad.

Israel says it must maintain control of such territories to prevent a repeat of the Hamas attack that triggered the latest conflict.

The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251.

Fifty-nine hostages are still inside Gaza, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 51,000 people, according to an updated toll released by Gaza’s health ministry on Tuesday.

That includes more than 1,600 people killed since Israel ended a ceasefire and resumed its offensive last month to pressure Hamas to accept changes to the agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to annihilate Hamas and return the 59 hostages still in Gaza.

He has said that Israel will then implement US President Donald Trump’s proposal for the resettlement of much of Gaza’s population in other countries through what Mr Netanyahu refers to as “voluntary emigration”.

Mr Netanyahu helms the most nationalist and religious government in Israel’s history, and his coalition partners have called for the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza.

Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and dismantled its settlements there.

Arab countries and Palestinians have universally rejected Mr Trump’s proposal, which human rights experts say would likely violate international law.

Palestinians in Gaza say they do not want to leave, and fear another mass expulsion like the one that occurred during the war surrounding Israel’s creation in 1948.