Israel’s defense minister on Tuesday vowed Israeli military would stay in Gaza and establish outposts there, but his office quickly softened his remarks made at an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank.
In comments reported across Israeli media, Israel Katz said Israel "will never leave" the devastated Palestinian territory.
His remarks come as mediators are pressing for the implementation of the next phases of a fragile cease-fire in Gaza, which would involve an Israeli withdrawal from the territory.
The cease-fire agreement came into force on Oct. 10 to end the two years of Israeli genocidal war that has killed nearly 71,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 171,000 others since October 2023.
U.S. President Donald Trump's 20-point plan for the truce states that "Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza."
