Defense Minister Katz: Israel Will "Never" Leave Gaza; Plans for Settlement Outposts in the North

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reaffirmed on Thursday that Israeli forces will "never" withdraw from the Gaza Strip. Katz outlined a permanent strategic presence involving a "significant security zone" within Gaza to protect Israeli border towns, maintaining that the military will hold dominant positions even after the dismantling of Hamas's infrastructure.

Crucially, Katz unveiled a vision for establishing "settlement nuclei" in Northern Gaza, describing them as vital to Israel's long-term security. He further characterized the current administration as a "settlement government," eyeing the formal annexation of the West Bank. Katz argued that the post-October 7 landscape has provided "unprecedented opportunities" to exert practical sovereignty over occupied territories, signaling a shift toward long-term territorial control in both Gaza and the West Bank.