Israel intends to retain all the territories it captures under permanent military control in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria.
According to his office, in these areas, the Army will remain in the occupied “safe zones” to act as a buffer between hostile combatants and Israel.
Unlike in the past, the Army will no longer evacuate its territory.
Katz said thousands of residents have been urged to flee, with some areas declared safe zones as Israel aims to create a larger buffer zone along its border with the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli-controlled “safe zone” also exists between the southern and northern parts of the Palestinian territory, and between the southern cities of Rafa and Khan Yunis.
Israeli troops stay in Lebanon
In Lebanon, Israeli troops continue to be stationed near the border for five strategic points.
Israel claims that the Lebanese army has not moved in quickly enough and has not fulfilled its obligations. Israel fears further attacks by Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militia.
Just a few months ago, the IDF described its existence as a “temporary measure.” But Kaz now says Israel will “stay in one buffer zone in Lebanon at five observatories.”
On the other hand, the Lebanese government is pushing for the complete withdrawal of the remaining Israeli forces from the country, a ceasefire agreement that came into effect at the end of November after a year's war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israeli troops are also in Syria
Israel also deployed its troops to Syrian territory near the nearby Golan Heights, especially in an uncontrolled buffer zone between the two countries, after overthrowing Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad late last year.
Israel justifies the move by invoking the need for arsenals and supply routes used by Hamas and Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially described it as a “temporary measure.”
The main negotiating points of Israel's existence
Announcing the long-term announcement of Israeli military presence in parts of severely damaged coastal areas is nothing new, and it is the main point of contention in the indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas insisted that the evacuation of Israeli forces was a prerequisite for the release of more hostages kidnapped from Israel and was brought to the Gaza Strip in October 2023, which caused the current conflict.
The United Nations said that about two-thirds of the Gaza Strip (also blocked by humanitarian aid) are now Israeli evacuation orders or are regarded as restricted by the IDF.
This applies to nearly 70% of Gaza, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres wrote on X. “I am very worried because aid continues to be blocked and has devastating consequences,” he wrote on the platform.
Gaza's living space is shrinking
The UN Human Rights Office has recently criticized Palestinians for being forcibly pushed into smaller areas where water, food or shelters are rarely or at all available.
The office also fears that the number of permanent displacement of civilians from areas designated as buffer zones exceeds 2 million.
According to Israeli human rights activists, houses, farmland and infrastructure in many areas have been destroyed to make them uninhabitable.
A story in the Wall Street Journal says that Israel now controls about one-third of Gaza.
Hostage Family: Katz’s plan is a fantasy
The Israeli government seems to think its hard-line approach will be successful, and Katz said the pressure on Hamas to agree to a deal is enormous.
Furthermore, Egypt reportedly made Hamas' disarmament the first time a condition for a comprehensive agreement and the end of the war, although Cairo had not been formally confirmed.
Relatives who were kidnapped expressed doubts about Israel's success in the Gaza Strip in a statement.
The Hostage Family Forum said Kaz’s plan was a fantasy. They accuse Israel of prioritizing the occupation of hostage fate.
The families reiterated their request for a deal with Hamas to ensure the release of hostages, even if the agreement means the end of the war.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Wednesday that at least 10 people were killed in an Israeli air strike in Israel, targeting a house in northern Gaza.
WAFA reported several people were injured in the attack, citing medical sources.
The Israeli military said it was inspecting the report.
