Israel Katz said Israel would impose control over Gaza similar to Israel’s ‘de facto sovereignty’ over the West Bank [Getty]

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Thursday vowed that Israeli forces would “never leave” Gaza, adding that they would establish a military buffer zone around the enclave and build settlements in its north.

The minister’s latest statement, reported by Haaretz, comes a day after an apparent retraction of similar comments made on Tuesday, which unsettled Israel’s allies in the US.

Speaking at an educational conference in Israel, Katz rejected reports that he had retracted the pledge on settlements, saying that Tel Aviv would impose “de facto sovereignty” on Gaza, comparing it to Israel’s control over the occupied West Bank.

Katz said that Nahal outposts – settlements created and led by Israeli soldiers – could be established in northern Gaza “in an organized manner when the time comes”. He added that his aim since the beginning of the war on Gaza has included the establishment of settlements and Jewish seminaries in the Palestinian enclave.

Regarding the West Bank, Katz said Israel’s policy is “practical sovereignty” over the territory, with direct annexation and displacement of Palestinians not yet possible.

Rights groups have long highlighted that Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories effectively live under Israeli rule, with Israel imposing apartheid policies. These policies do not allow Palestinians freedom of movement, speech, or the ability to vote for the Israeli government that de facto rules over them.

The minister’s latest remarks come ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the US to meet with President Donald Trump – talks which Israeli media says will be complicated by Katz’s comments.

On Thursday, Israel’s Channel 12 quoted an Israeli official as saying that differences remain between Netanyahu and Trump’s advisors, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, regarding moving onto the second phase of the ceasefire.

The channel also reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is much closer to Netanyahu’s position on the issue.

The Israeli official added that Trump’s own position remains unclear.

On the ground in Gaza, Israel has escalated its attacks on the enclave despite a ceasefire being in place since October.

Gaza’s Civil Defence crews have continued to rush to the aid of Palestinians wounded by Israeli strikes, as well as working to recover the bodies of those killed over the course of Israel’s war. Rescuers also face the threat of buildings collapsing as a result of damage caused by Israeli strikes.

On Thursday, rescuers recovered the bodies of 25 Palestinians from beneath the rubble of the al-Astal family home in Khan Younis. Among those killed were journalist Hiba Al-Abadla and her mother, who were killed by Israeli forces nearly two years ago.

Israel has been accused of stalling the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, while bombing Gaza and demolishing homes in the areas under its control.

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