Israeli finance minister calls for building settlements near Gaza amid ongoing Israeli offensive

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has proposed the construction of three new Israeli settlements near Gaza amid ongoing Israeli military strikes against Palestinians in the territory. This comes as the US prepares to provide additional military support to Israel. Smotrich, who heads Israel's Settlements Administration, called for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to approve the plan, stating that his administration is prepared to establish the settlements in the northern sector of the Gaza Strip.

The proposal marks a return to settlements that were evacuated in 2005 under then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan. Since October 2023, Israel has been engaged in a military offensive in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, killing hundreds of Palestinians and wounding thousands. The Palestinian health ministry reported that six Palestinians were killed and 23 wounded in Israeli attacks in the last 24 hours.

The Israeli military said it killed two Hamas commanders in separate strikes in Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas called for the US-led Board of Peace to ensure that commitments made under last year's ceasefire are honored. Israel is also expected to receive about 10 additional aerial refueling aircraft in the coming days.