Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has declared that the Israeli military will never fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip, confirming plans to establish permanent military units inside the besieged Palestinian enclave — a move that directly contradicts the terms of a United States-backed truce agreement signed earlier this year.

Speaking on Tuesday, Katz said Israeli forces would remain deployed throughout Gaza indefinitely, despite the October peace deal between Israel and Hamas that explicitly calls for a complete Israeli military withdrawal and prohibits the re-establishment of Israeli civilian settlements in the territory.

Permanent Israeli Military Presence in Gaza

“We are located deep inside Gaza, and we will never leave all of Gaza,” Katz said during his remarks. “We are there to protect.”

He added that Israel plans to establish Nahal military outposts in northern Gaza, replacing Israeli settlements that were dismantled in 2005 as part of Israel’s unilateral disengagement from the enclave.

“In due course, we will establish Nahal outposts in northern Gaza in place of the settlements that were uprooted,” Katz said, according to Israeli media reports.

The comments immediately sparked controversy, as Nahal units are military formations that combine civilian service with army enlistment and have historically played a role in the founding of Israeli communities, raising concerns that the move could pave the way for renewed settlement activity in Gaza.

Clarification After US Pushback

Hours after his remarks, Katz issued a statement in English to the Reuters news agency, attempting to soften his position. He said that any Nahal units stationed in Gaza would be present “only for security reasons.”

Israeli media reported that US officials expressed displeasure with Katz’s initial statements and sought clarification, given that the comments appeared to contradict Israel’s commitments under the ceasefire and truce agreement.

The peace plan, brokered with US backing, was intended to halt Israel’s more than two-year-long war on Gaza and lay the groundwork for de-escalation, reconstruction, and humanitarian relief.

Remarks Made at Settlement Expansion Event

Katz made his initial comments while speaking at a ceremony in the occupied West Bank, marking the approval of 1,200 new housing units in the illegal Israeli settlement of Beit El.

Addressing settlement expansion, Katz openly embraced a hardline stance, saying:
“Netanyahu’s government is a settlements government … it strives for action. If we can get sovereignty, we will bring about sovereignty. We are in the practical sovereignty era.”

“There are opportunities here that haven’t been here for a long time,” he added, signaling continued support for expanding Israeli control over occupied Palestinian territories.

Election Politics and Far-Right Pressure

Israel is expected to head into an election year in 2026, with illegal settlement expansion and Gaza policy emerging as major political issues. Far-right and ultranationalist members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition have repeatedly called for the reoccupation of Gaza and accelerated settlement growth across the West Bank.

Katz’s comments are widely seen as an appeal to these political factions, many of whom oppose any form of territorial withdrawal and reject Palestinian sovereignty.

International Law and Ongoing Violence

Under international law, all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court classifies the transfer of an occupying power’s civilian population into occupied territory as a war crime.

Meanwhile, violence has continued across both Gaza and the West Bank despite the ceasefire. Palestinian officials report that Israeli military operations and settler attacks have intensified, resulting in widespread casualties and arrests.

According to Palestinian authorities:

• More than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in recent months
• Approximately 11,000 have been wounded
• Over 21,000 Palestinians have been arrested

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said that since the ceasefire began on October 11, at least 406 Palestinians have been killed and 1,118 injured. Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, the death toll has reached 70,942 Palestinians, with 171,195 wounded.

Growing Concerns Over Truce Viability

Katz’s statements have raised fresh doubts about Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire framework and any long-term political resolution. Analysts warn that maintaining a permanent military presence in Gaza risks undermining regional stability, delaying reconstruction, and escalating tensions with both Palestinians and Israel’s international partners.

Human rights groups and international observers continue to call for full compliance with ceasefire agreements, respect for international law, and meaningful steps toward ending the occupation.