Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Apr 17: Israel’s Defence Minister has declared that Israeli forces will maintain an indefinite military presence in designated security zones within Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria — a move likely to deepen tensions and stall ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.
The announcement comes as Israel continues its renewed military operations across Gaza, aimed at pressuring Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages. The latest airstrikes claimed the lives of at least 22 more Palestinians, according to local health authorities, bringing further devastation to the war-torn enclave.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that unlike past conflicts, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) would not withdraw from areas captured during the current campaign. “The military will remain stationed in these buffer zones to act as a shield between enemy forces and Israeli communities,” Katz noted, referencing similar security zones already held in parts of Lebanon and Syria.
This strategic stance follows Israel’s expanded control over more than half of Gaza and reaffirms its reluctance to vacate southern Lebanon and areas of southern Syria it entered after the fall of Assad’s regime.
Neighbouring countries and Palestinian officials have slammed the Israeli military’s continued presence as an illegal occupation under international law. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of obstructing the Lebanese army's full deployment, as mandated by last year’s ceasefire agreement.
Tensions remain high in southern Lebanon, where two civilians were killed in Israeli drone strikes on Wednesday. The United Nations reports that over 70 Lebanese civilians have died since the truce with Hezbollah came into effect in November.
Hamas, meanwhile, maintains that no hostages will be freed without a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the establishment of a lasting ceasefire. Families of Israeli hostages have expressed growing frustration with their government, accusing it of prioritizing territorial gains over securing the safe return of captives.
“There’s only one viable solution — the immediate release of all hostages through a comprehensive agreement, even if it requires ending the war,” the families’ representative group said in a statement.
Israel argues that maintaining these zones is essential for national security, citing the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 people being taken hostage.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 51,000 Palestinians have died since the onset of Israel’s offensive. While it does not specify how many were civilians or combatants, it states that women and children account for over half the fatalities. Israel claims it has killed about 20,000 militants but has yet to provide supporting evidence.
Vast swathes of Gaza have been rendered uninhabitable. Nearly 90% of its 2 million residents have been displaced — many more than once. With humanitarian access blocked for over seven weeks, civilians now endure harsh conditions in overcrowded tent camps with dangerously low supplies of food and clean water.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported a sharp increase in acute malnutrition across the Strip as aid trucks continue to be barred entry.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains steadfast in his goal to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of the remaining 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to still be alive.
In a video released Wednesday by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, hostage Rom Braslavski appeared for the first time since his abduction. Speaking under clear duress, he pleaded with Netanyahu to end the war and permit humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Netanyahu has also revived a controversial proposal originally advanced by former US President Donald Trump, advocating for the "voluntary emigration" of Palestinians from Gaza to other countries — a plan widely condemned by Palestinians and international human rights organizations as a violation of international law.
Palestinian communities have unequivocally rejected the resettlement proposal, fearing a repeat of the 1948 mass displacement during Israel’s formation.
Meanwhile, Trump’s envoy to the region, Steve Witkoff, continues efforts to negotiate a new ceasefire more favorable to Israeli terms — but so far, no breakthrough has been achieved.