'Unlike in the past, the army is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized,' Katz stated."Unlike in the past, the (Israeli military) is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized," said Defence Minister Israel Katz.
According to Euro News, this stance risks setting back ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, which demands a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza for the release of the remaining hostages.
Israel currently controls more than half of the Gaza Strip after resuming military operations last month. It also maintains forces in parts of southern Lebanon and a buffer zone in Syria.
Palestinians, Lebanon, and Syria consider Israel's military presence an illegal occupation under international law.
Israel argues that holding these zones is essential to prevent future attacks like the one carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and led to 251 abductions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to annihilate Hamas and return the remaining 59 hostages who are still in Gaza, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
Netanyahu also supports a plan, originally proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, to resettle much of Gaza's population in other countries through what he calls 'voluntary emigration.'
However, the proposal has been widely condemned by Palestinians, Arab nations, and human rights experts as a likely breach of international law.
IGIHE
