Israel Minister says to maintain Gaza 'security control' after war
The Hindu
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz asserts Israeli military freedom of action in Gaza post-war with Hamas.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday (December 17, 2024) that his country's forces would be free to act in the Gaza Strip even after its war with Hamas ends.
"After eliminating Hamas's military and governmental capabilities in Gaza, Israel would have security control over Gaza with complete freedom of action" for the Israeli military, Mr. Katz said in a post on X, noting that it was his own "position".
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Mr. Katz said that Israel's future control over Gaza should be "exactly like in Judea and Samaria", the biblical names for the West Bank which Israel has occupied since 1967 and where its forces conduct frequent raids.
The question of Gaza's post-war governance has remained unresolved, more than a year since Israel vowed to crush Hamas in retaliation for its October 7, 2023 attack.
Mr. Katz's predecessor Yoav Gallant had voiced firm opposition to any prolonged Israeli control of Gaza, from which Israel withdrew troops and settlers in 2005 after decades of direct rule.
In May, then as Defence Minister, Mr. Gallant said that he would "not agree to the establishment of an Israeli military administration in Gaza".
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