Israel's Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, has declared that Israeli troops will remain in “designated security zones” within Gaza even after the end of the war.
Katz said that the purpose of the areas was to provide a “shock absorber” to protect Israeli communities “in any temporary or permanent situation.”
According to the BBC, he added that “dozens of the percentage” of Gaza had been added since the Israeli offensive resumed three weeks ago.
In addition, he declared that the Israeli government would continue to block humanitarian aid in Gaza, a measure in force since March 2, in an attempt to pressure Hamas to release hostages.
“Israel's policy is clear: no humanitarian aid will enter Gaza, and block this help is one of the main pressure levers that prevents Hamas from using it as a tool with the population,” he said.
The United Nations have warned about the “devastating” consequences of the current blockade. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said Wednesday that Gaza had been “turned into a massive pit of Palestinians and those who come to their help.”
“We are witnessing in real time the destruction and forced displacement of the entire population in Gaza,” said Amande Bazerolle, emergency coordinator of the beneficial organization in Gaza.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, led by Hamas, more than 1,650 people have been killed since hostilities resumed on March 18. Hospital sources reported that Israeli air attacks killed at least 24 Palestinians only on Wednesday, and most victims occurred in the city of Gaza.
Among the dead were ten members of the Hassauna family, including children and women. One of the victims was identified as Fatema Hassauna, a young writer and photographer.
The UN has estimated that 69% of Gaza is now under active Israeli evacuation orders, leaving around half a million newly displaced people.
The evacuation zones include borders with Israel and Egypt and areas that surround the Wadi Gaza Valley.
Israel has also designated 30% of Gaza as a “operational security perimeter”, and its forces have advanced in several areas of the north and south, including the establishment of a corridor that cuts Rafah by Khan Younis.
Katz insisted that the IDF would not withdraw from the territory he has seized. “Unlike the past, the FDI is not evacuating areas that have been clear and seized,” he said.
“FDI will remain in security areas as a shock absorber between the enemy and [Israeli] Communities in any temporary or permanent situation in Gaza, as in Lebanon and Syria. “
Meanwhile, Hamas reiterated that any permanent fire should include a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
“Any truce that lacks real guarantees to stop war, achieve complete withdrawal, lift the blockade and start reconstruction will be a political trap,” said the group on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
At the national level, Katz's comments caused criticisms of the hostages and the missing families forum, which described the proposed policy as an “illusion.”
“They promised that hostages come first of all. In practice, however, Israel is choosing to seize the territory before the hostages,” the group said.
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“There is an obvious, practice solution and it is to free all hostages at one stage with an agreement, even at the cost of ending the war.”
The pressure also comes from reserves and veterans Israeli military, with multiple open letters that urge the government to prioritize the return of hostages on continuous military operations.
Despite Katz's claims, the UN and its humanitarian partners strongly challenge Israel, he states that the aid is sufficient.
While Israel points to 25,000 aid charges delivered during the top fire, help agencies say the conditions have deteriorated sharply.
The UN declared that tents are no longer available and acute malnutrition is increasing, and the number of children who receive supplementary food decrease by more than two thirds in March.
MSF said the health system is collapsing under “shortage of insecurity and critical supply,” with limited access to care.
Israel launched its military campaign after the cross -border attack led by Hamas on October 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people were killed and another 251 refused as hostages. Since then, the Gaza Ministry of Health informs that at least 51,025 people have been killed.
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