Israeli defense minister says Israel will not fully withdraw from Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Israel would never fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip or from Syria, and reiterated plans to establish new settlements in Gaza.

Speaking at a public ceremony in the West Bank settlement of Beit El, Katz said Israel plans to set up Nahal settlement groups in northern Gaza. These are military-backed settlement nuclei that can later expand into civilian communities. He said the move would take place "in the right way, at the right time," without giving a timeline.

Katz said the proposed settlements would be built "in place of" those evacuated during Israel's 2005 withdrawal from the Gaza Strip under the disengagement plan.

"We are deep inside Gaza and will never leave all of Gaza, there will be no such thing," Katz said.

Despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10, Israel has continued near-daily attacks in Gaza, along with demolition of buildings in areas where its troops remain deployed.

On Syria, Katz dismissed U.S.-brokered diplomatic efforts to reach an arrangement between Israel and Syria. "We don't trust anyone ... no agreement," he said. "We will not withdraw even by a millimeter in Syria."

Israel moved into the buffer zone in southwestern Syria in December 2024 and later took control of the peak of Mount Hermon.

(With input from agencies)