Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has renewed a controversial push to establish illegal settlements in the northern Gaza Strip following months of devastating military operations, according to Al Jazeera and regional news reports. During an interview broadcast on Israel`s Channel 14, Katz detailed plans to create three military-linked agricultural outposts, known as Nahal, in areas previously populated by Palestinians before the ongoing conflict.
The announcement signals a clear continuation of hardline policies by members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party. Katz argued that setting up these outposts at the right time and with proper coordination would significantly enhance Israeli security. He had previously stated in December that the military would never relinquish complete control over Gaza, directly contradicting a United States-brokered agreement that stipulated a full withdrawal and explicitly barred the re-establishment of Israeli settlements.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also oversees settlement administration within the Defence Ministry, echoed these sentiments recently. He claimed that the groundwork for establishing three new settlements in northern Gaza had already been finalized. Smotrich and other far-right politicians have consistently advocated for the total occupation of the besieged enclave and the permanent displacement of its Palestinian residents, holding high-profile conferences to advocate for civilian settlements.
Former Israeli diplomat Alon Liel explained to Al Jazeera that this push remains central to the ideological goals of the settler movement. He noted that the government`s ultimate objective is to expel the local population and construct settlements similar to those in the occupied West Bank. Analysts warn that the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure serves this long-term strategy of making the territory completely uninhabitable for its indigenous population.
Issam Younis, director of the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, expressed no surprise at the recent remarks from Israeli officials. He emphasized that the overarching goal of the military campaign has always been to destroy everything in Gaza and force a mass exodus. Younis accused the Israeli government of deliberately starving the population and seizing land to pave the way for Jewish settlements. Early in 2025, Israel openly announced the creation of a dedicated agency to oversee the voluntary migration of Palestinians from Gaza, a plan initially proposed by Katz. Following severe international backlash and warnings from legal experts that such actions constitute war crimes, Israeli media reported that the government rebranded the initiative as a free movement plan to appease global critics. Despite the rebranding, a recent university poll indicated that an overwhelming 82 percent of Jewish Israelis still support the expulsion of Palestinians.
Meanwhile, conditions on the ground remain catastrophic nine months into a fragile ceasefire agreement. The United Nations reports that Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,127 Palestinians, including 265 children, during this supposedly peaceful period. The healthcare system has completely collapsed, and acute shortages of essential medicines continue to plague hospitals. Humanitarian organizations emphasize that only 20 percent of required aid, including vital water and health supplies, has been allowed to enter the blockaded strip.
To tighten its grip, the Israeli military has significantly expanded the Yellow Line, a heavily fortified security buffer, which now encompasses roughly 70 percent of Gaza. Katz stated unequivocally that troops would not retreat from this line even if armed groups were fully disarmed. Observers suggest that the upcoming national elections on October 27 are driving this aggressive rhetoric, as ministers attempt to rally right-wing voters. What remains unclear is whether international bodies, including the newly formed Board of Peace, will take decisive action to halt the territorial expansion before the humanitarian disaster worsens.
