Katz again vows Israel ‘will never fully withdraw’ from Gaza Strip, eyes outposts |
Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday again insisted that Israel will never fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip and hinted at establishing outposts in the enclave, days after he sparked controversy by saying that he wanted to rebuild settlements in the northern part of the Strip
Katz appeared to be trying to walk a careful line after he had retracted his earlier comments and earned a rebuke from Washington.
“In Gaza, Israel will never fully withdraw — there will be a significant security area inside the Strip even after we move to stage two [of the peace deal] if Hamas disarms,” Katz said during a conference organized by the Makor Rishon newspaper, adding that it was necessary to protect the Israeli communities that were overrun during the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre.
“That’s what I said, that’s what I’m saying now, and that’s what I continue to say,” Katz said.
His repeated insistence that Israel will stay in Gaza is at odds with US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which halted the Gaza war.
The plan states that “Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza” and that once a planned International Stabilization Force is deployed to........