Israel has seized over half of the Palestinian enclave in a renewed offensive after a ceasefire with Hamas collapsed last month
Israeli troops will remain indefinitely in the so-called security zones it has established within Gaza, the defense minister said on Wednesday. He added that their forces will also stay in similar zones in Lebanon and Syria.
West Jerusalem has said the buffer zones are necessary to protect its communities and prevent future attacks by military groups. In Gaza, the military has established corridors to separate areas under Hamas control.
Israel has also refused to withdraw from some areas in Lebanon following a truce with Hezbollah last year, and it seized a buffer zone in southern Syria, following the ousting of former President Bashar Assad.
“Unlike in the past,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) “is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. The IDF “will remain in the security zones as a buffer between the enemy and [Israeli] communities in any temporary or permanent situation in Gaza – as in Lebanon and Syria.”
Israeli forces have taken control of more than half of Gaza in a renewed offensive following the collapse of a ceasefire and the stalling of hostage negotiations last month. The IDF has resumed airstrikes in Gaza to increase pressure on Hamas to release the remaining captives who were taken during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.
Katz also stated that Israel will block any humanitarian aid from entering Gaza.”No humanitarian aid will be allowed into Gaza,” he said on X on Wednesday.
Preventing humanitarian aid from entering the enclave “is one of the main pressure tools that stops Hamas from using this means against the population,” he added.
Israel’s stance could further complicate negotiations with Hamas over a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave and the release of the remaining hostages. Palestinians, as well as Lebanon and Syria, regard the presence of Israeli troops as a military occupation that violates international law.
On Wednesday, Palestinian health officials reported that Israeli strikes in Gaza killed 22 people, including a girl under the age of one. More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the Palestinian authorities, since Israel launched its military operation in response to the Hamas attack.
Hamas has stated that it will not release the remaining hostages without a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The Israeli authorities have reported that 59 hostages remain in the enclave, with 24 believed to be alive. Dozens of others were previously released through ceasefire agreements or separate deals.
The Palestinian organization representing the families of the hostages accused the Israeli government of prioritizing territorial control over the lives of the captives, despite earlier promises to put the hostages first, according to AP.