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Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has stated publically that Gaza will not return to civilian control after the conflict.
The comments are in direct opposition to the long-ignored injunction issued by the International Court of Justice, and in conflict with Israeli military leaders’ statements about how Hamas cannot be defeated.
“After we defeat Hamas’ military and governmental power in Gaza, Israel will have security control over Gaza with full freedom of action, just as it did in (the West Bank)… We will not allow a return to the reality of before October 7th,” he said on X.
The statement was actually a clarification of the ministry’s position after Israel’s Channel 12 News reported that Katz had told a senior American official in a closed-door meeting that “Israel does not want military control or civilian governance over the residents of the Gaza Strip”.
The Israeli Defense Forces are already ethnically cleansing the north of Gaza according to the “General’s Plan“. A military corridor already bisects northern Gaza, where Palestinians have been unable to return to their homes after being forced to evacuate. Those who didn’t comply with the evacuation order were bombed or starved until they left or died.
“Israeli ministers and Knesset members have not been shy about their desire to establish Jewish settlements in northern Gaza, and settler leaders have already gone to scout locations,” writes award-winning war reporter Dave DeCamp.
Katz’s comments also come as reports that negotiations between Hamas and the Jewish state over the release of hostages are progressing. According to Antiwar, a full withdrawal of the IDF is not included in Hamas’ demands, but a gradual return of control to a Palestinian civilian government is.
The IDF is currently besieging the last hospital in northern Gaza. Eyewitness reports and statements from the medical staff have detailed that the IDF has booby-trapped the exterior, repeatedly opened fire with sniper rifles, and bombed the third floor with heavy-lift drones.
“As of now, there is no electricity, water, or oxygen at all. We are working to fix part of the infrastructure that was targeted,” attendant physician Dr. Abu Safiya told The New Arab. WaL
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PICTURED ABOVE: Israel Katz in a propaganda photo in North Gaza. PC: Israeli Defense Ministry handout.
