JERUSALEM, Dec 26: Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Friday reiterating his stance regarding the IDF presence in the Gaza Strip, stressing that Jerusalem will never fully withdraw from war-ravage enclave.
Katz also hinted at establishing outposts in the Strip, after he reaffirmed his stance of wanting to construct Israeli settlements along the northern part of the Strip.
Reportedly, Katz’s own stance appeared to be that of maximum caution, as he was noted to be carefully straddling the line between a more aggressive tone, against a more a moderately crafted rhetoric, after the Israeli official was forced to retract his earlier comments due to earning a rebuke from Washington.
“In Gaza, Israel will never fully withdraw – there will be a significant security area inside the Strip even after we move to stage two [of the peace deal] if Hamas disarms,” Katz said during a conference organised by the Makor Rishon newspaper, adding that it was necessary to protect the Israeli communities that were overrun during the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre, reports Israeli media.
His repeated calls for keeping IDF forces stationed in Gaza stand in stark contrast to one of the key-demands of the US-brokered ceasefire, which calls for the total pullback of all IDF forces from the area, something which has not gone down well in Jerusalem, amid rising security tensions among Israeli officials.
As per Washington’s 20-point plan, “Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza” and that once a planned International Stabilisation Force is deployed to take responsibility for the enclave’s security, IDF troops will recede “until they are withdrawn completely from Gaza, save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat.”
The US is pushing for those steps, which form part of the second stage of the ceasefire, to begin soon, though the terror group’s refusal to give up its weapons is also derailing the deal from proceeding any further. If Hamas doesn’t disarm itself, “we’ll do it,” Katz said, warning the outfit.
Katz also stressed that should Israel relinquish control of the Philadelphi Corridor on the border between Gaza and Egypt for “even one day,” Iran will succeed in sending all sorts of weapons into Gaza, referring to the Islamic Republic’s support for terror groups in the enclave.
Katz rejected the assertion that he had “reversed” his comments earlier this week, calling for settlements inside Gaza, saying that “reverse is something I only do when driving.”
(UNI)
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