Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the Israeli military will never fully leave the Gaza Strip and that an army unit will be set up inside the area.
On Tuesday, Katz said Israeli forces would stay in Gaza, despite a U.S.-supported peace plan signed by Israel and Hamas in October. This plan requires Israeli troops to withdraw completely and prevents the establishment of Israeli civilian settlements in the area.
Katz stated, “We are deep inside Gaza, and we will never leave all of Gaza. We are there to protect.” He also mentioned plans to set up Nahal units, which are a type of Israeli infantry brigade, in northern Gaza to take the place of the removed settlements.
Later, he clarified to Reuters that Nahal units would only be in Gaza for security reasons. Reports indicate that U.S. officials were unhappy with Katz’s initial remarks and sought more information.
Nahal units combine civilian service with military enlistment and have historically helped create Israeli communities.
Katz spoke at a ceremony in the occupied West Bank where he highlighted the approval of 1,200 housing units in the illegal Israeli settlement of Beit El. Regarding settlement expansion in the West Bank, he said, “Netanyahu’s government supports settlements … it aims to act. If we can gain sovereignty, we will achieve it. We are in the era of practical sovereignty.” He added, “There are opportunities here that have not been available for a long time.”
Israel will head into an election year in 2026, and illegal settlement expansion is a significant political topic. Right-wing members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition have said they want to take back Gaza and expand illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Israeli Settlements in the Occupied West Bank are Illegal
Under international law, all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal. Moving civilians from an occupying power into occupied territory is considered a war crime.
Meanwhile, violence by Israeli forces and settlers continues in the West Bank, and killings in Gaza have not stopped, despite the ceasefire. Palestinian officials report that over 1,100 Palestinians have been killed, about 11,000 wounded, and more than 21,000 arrested.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health states that since the ceasefire started on October 11, at least 406 Palestinians have died and 1,118 have been injured. Since the beginning of the war on October 7, 2023, the ministry claims that 70,942 Palestinians have been killed and 171,195 wounded.
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