Katz threatens new Israeli settlements in Gaza despite ceasefire

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has threatened to reestablish Israeli settler outposts in the enclave, openly signalling plans that would violate the US-brokered ceasefire agreement with Hamas and entrench Israel's military control over Palestinian land.

His threats came as the latest indication that Israeli forces would never fully withdraw from Gaza, despite the ceasefire framework requiring a complete pullout and barring the reestablishment of civilian settlements in the territory.

Katz Israeli forces were "deep inside Gaza" and would "never leave", according to footage published by Israeli media.

He also threatened the establishment of Israeli outposts in northern Gaza to replace settlements dismantled during Israel's unilateral disengagement from the enclave in 2005, framing the move as a "security" necessity.

Katz made the remarks during a speech filmed in the illegal settlement of Beit El in the occupied West Bank, where he also announced plans to build 1,200 new settlements on the site of an Israeli military base scheduled to close, further advancing settlement expansion on occupied Palestinian land.

"When the time comes, God willing, we will establish outposts in northern Gaza in place of the communities that were uprooted," Katz said, referring to Nahal outposts, military-linked settlements used as a precursor to permanent civilian colonisation.

He added that Israel's continued presence in Gaza was aimed at preventing a repeat of past attacks, language routinely used by Israeli officials to justify long-term military occupation.

Katz later attempted to walk back his remarks. His office issued a statement claiming the government had "no intention" of establishing settlements in Gaza and said the comments were made "solely in a security context".

Under US President Donald Trump's 20-point Gaza plan, agreed to by both Israel and Hamas in October, Israeli forces are required to withdraw completely from the enclave, and Israel is explicitly barred from restoring civilian settlements there.

Despite this, senior Israeli officials have repeatedly floated proposals that point towards permanent control. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly ruled out a return of settlements to Gaza, his governing coalition includes ultra-nationalist figures who openly advocate reoccupation.

Former defence minister and ex-army chief Gadi Eisenkot accused the Israeli government of undermining its own commitments, saying it was promoting settlement plans while formally backing the US-brokered agreement.

Hamas condemned Katz’s remarks as a serious violation of the ceasefire. Speaking to The New Arab’s Arabic-language edition, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasim said the statements had directly contradicted the ceasefire framework and exposed Israel's intention to prolong its war on Gaza.

Qasim said the threats came amid a series of Israeli ceasefire violations since the truce took effect, including the killing of more than 400 Palestinians, changes to the route of the so-called Yellow Line, restrictions on humanitarian aid, and the continued closure of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gaza's main gateway for civilian travel, medical treatment and study.

He said Hamas had remained committed to the ceasefire provisions.