Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Wednesday, while inspecting his forces in Gaza, that his country's army will not withdraw from the Palestinian Strip, stressing control over 60 percent of it. On the other hand, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said that his country has plans to remove the Palestinians from Gaza, adding that it is "waiting for the United States to determine the place to which they can be transferred."

Published on: 09/02/2026 - 20:11

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited his country's forces in Gaza, where he confirmed that the Hebrew state will not withdraw from the Palestinian Strip.

Netanyahu said from the "yellow line" area that separates areas where Israeli forces are deployed from those under Hamas administration, "We control the area. We will not retreat. We will remain on this line," according to a statement issued by his office.

He added, "We control 60 percent of the Gaza Strip, and we will not stop, because we eliminate the terrorists who threaten us, and we continue to do so."

Read also: Palestinians killed in intense bombing of Gaza, and Netanyahu announces the arrest of the Hamas internal security official

Israel continues to bomb Gaza

Israel continues to bomb the Gaza Strip despite a US-brokered October ceasefire agreement.

Last month, Netanyahu, who is running in heated elections next October, rejected the final stage of the peace plan for Gaza, after Hamas said it had agreed to hand over its weapons.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces arrested a security official during an operation in the Gaza Strip that resulted in the deaths of four people.

Netanyahu said that the target was the Hamas internal security official in Gaza.

The Hamas Interior Ministry said that Israel kidnapped Internal Security Service officer Moin Al-Arbid.

The Israeli Prime Minister added on Wednesday, "We are doing everything to achieve our goal, to disarm Hamas and demilitarize Gaza. Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel."

"There is still work to be done, and we will get it done," he added.

"Israeli plans to remove the Palestinians from the Gaza Strip"

In the same context, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said on Wednesday that his country has plans to remove the Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, but is waiting for the United States to determine where they can be transferred.

Katz said during a conference hosted by the Ynet website and Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, "There is ultimately no real solution to Gaza without this migration."

He added that the Israeli government "is organized and prepared to expel them, by sea, air, and by every possible means."

Following the ceasefire agreement in October, US President Donald Trump presented a 20-point plan regarding Gaza that stipulated no forced displacement.

Forced displacement of civilians in occupied territories is a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.

Since the announcement of the ceasefire agreement last October, Israel has killed at least 1,330 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, whose figures the United Nations considers reliable.

The Israeli army announced the killing of five of its soldiers during the same period, in addition to the killing of one civilian contractor.

France 24/Reuters/AFP

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