Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, has declared that Israeli troops will remain in designated “security zones” within Gaza even after the end of the war.
Katz said the purpose of the zones was to provide a “buffer” to protect Israeli communities “in any temporary or permanent situation.”
According to the BBC, he added that “tens of per cent” of Gaza had been added since the Israeli offensive resumed three weeks ago.
He further stated that the Israeli government would continue to block humanitarian aid into Gaza, a measure in place since 2 March, in an attempt to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages.
“Israel’s policy is clear: no humanitarian aid will enter Gaza, and blocking this aid is one of the main pressure levers preventing Hamas from using it as a tool with the population,” he said.
The United Nations has warned of “devastating” consequences of the ongoing blockade. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said on Wednesday that Gaza had been “turned into a mass grave of Palestinians and those coming to their assistance”.
