Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Israeli forces will remain indefinitely in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Syria to establish security zones against threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, and a newly formed Syrian government. Katz emphasized that this military strategy involves retaining control of cleared territories, diverging from previous withdrawals and potentially complicating ongoing truce negotiations with Hamas. As hostages remain in Gaza, their families criticized Israel's focus on territorial expansion over hostages' release, foreseeing implications for the cease-fire talks with both Hamas and Hezbollah, and further tensions with Syria's leadership.
Unlike in the past, the (Israeli military) is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized. [The IDF] will remain in the security zones as a buffer between the enemy and (Israeli) communities in any temporary or permanent situation in Gaza - as in Lebanon and Syria.
They promised that the hostages come first. In practice, Israel is choosing to seize territory before the hostages.
There is one solution that is desirable and feasible, and that is the release of all the hostages at once as part of an agreement, even at the cost of ending the war.
Katz's announcement could also derail the truce with Hezbollah, as well as further antagonize Israel with Syria's new leaders, who overthrew President Bashar Assad last year.
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