Israeli security officials said on Wednesday that the military would remain deployed along the so-called “Yellow Line” in Gaza and that reconstruction would not begin unless Hamas relinquishes its weapons, according to Israeli media reports.
An Israeli security official told the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan) that Israel does not expect Hamas to voluntarily disarm and would therefore continue military operations against what it considers security threats.
“Israel does not believe that Hamas will relinquish its weapons, and until that happens, the army will continue to thwart threats, will not withdraw from the Yellow Line, and will not begin any steps related to the reconstruction of the Strip,” the official was quoted as saying.
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Israeli security sources also claimed that the US administration had given Israel a “green light” to retain freedom of military action in Gaza, including targeted strikes against individuals Israel considers to pose an immediate threat or to be planning attacks against Israeli forces.
