Netanyahu vows Israeli forces will remain in Gaza as tensions rise

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, vowing not to pull back troops despite recent efforts from mediators to advance a US-backed ceasefire plan. Netanyahu stated, "We control the area. We are not retreating. We are staying on this line," near the so-called Yellow Line that separates Hamas- and Israeli-controlled territories.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Israel has controlled 60% of the Gaza Strip and will not stop until they eliminate threats from Hamas. Despite international appeals to move to the next stages of the US-led peace plan, Israel has continued targeting Palestinians it claims are militants. Netanyahu, running for re-election in October, has insisted on disarming Hamas before any military withdrawal.

On Tuesday, Israel reported that its forces and a Palestinian anti-Hamas militia captured the head of Hamas' internal security apparatus, though Palestinian health officials said four people died in the operation. Netanyahu reiterated that the goal is to disarm Hamas and demilitarize Gaza, stating, "Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel."

Defense Minister Israel Katz hinted at plans to remove Palestinians from the Strip, though no specific destination has been determined. The Israeli government is prepared to relocate Gazans by sea, air, or other means, but such displacement has been condemned as a potential war crime. Since the ceasefire in October 2025, Israeli operations in Gaza have resulted in at least 1,334 deaths, according to the Palestinian health ministry.