Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, on Tuesday denied any plans to resettle the Gaza Strip after his earlier remarks caused confusion by suggesting that Israel might one day establish a presence there. Speaking at the Beit El settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Katz clarified that his comments were misunderstood and that the government had no intention of creating civilian settlements in Gaza, in line with the US-backed peace plan for the Palestinian enclave.
Katz’s initial comments referred to the deployment of Nahal units, a type of Israeli military unit historically involved in establishing communities, including settlements. He stressed that their role in northern Gaza would be purely for security purposes, to protect Israeli citizens and prevent threats from Hamas or other militant groups. “We are located deep inside Gaza and we will never leave all of Gaza. There will never be such a thing. We are there to protect, to prevent what happened. We don’t trust anybody else to protect our citizens,” Katz said.
Hamas condemned Katz’s remarks, with spokesperson Hazem Qassem describing them as a “clear violation of the ceasefire agreement” and “completely against” the US-backed peace plan. The plan, signed by Israel and Hamas in October, bars Tel Aviv from establishing civilian settlements in Gaza and calls for a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the coastal enclave. However, it allows for a security perimeter to remain in place until Gaza is deemed free from terror threats.
The controversy highlights the challenges facing US President Donald Trump’s peace plan as he prepares to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next week. While the plan secured a ceasefire in October and facilitated the release of the remaining Israeli prisoners captured during the October 7, 2023, raids, progress on other objectives has been limited. Hamas has so far refused to disarm, and key elements such as the establishment of a transitional authority and deployment of a multinational force have not advanced.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlement construction in the occupied West Bank has accelerated under Netanyahu. With elections approaching next year, settlements remain politically significant, forming part of the voter base for both Katz and Netanyahu’s Likud party. The defence minister emphasized that Israel’s actions in Gaza are strictly security-oriented and not intended to contravene international agreements or the US-backed framework for peace in the region.
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