Israeli Defense Minister: Troops to Stay in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria Indefinitely/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning EDition/ Israel’s defense minister has announced troops will remain indefinitely in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria under “security zones,” escalating tensions and stalling ceasefire talks. Palestinian officials decry the move as illegal occupation, while deadly Israeli airstrikes continue across Gaza. The situation further complicates efforts to secure a hostage release and lasting peace.
Israeli Military to Stay in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria: Quick Looks
- Israel declares indefinite troop presence in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria
- Defense minister calls zones vital for protecting Israeli communities
- Ceasefire and hostage negotiations with Hamas now at a standstill
- 22 Palestinians, including an infant girl, killed in latest Israeli strikes
- Palestinians and neighboring countries label presence as illegal occupation
- Gaza death toll surpasses 51,000, with civilians making up over half
- Netanyahu backs resettlement plan for Palestinians, rejected internationally
- Trump envoy struggles to broker new ceasefire agreement
Israeli Defense Minister: Troops to Stay in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria Indefinitely
Deep Look
JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister announced Wednesday that Israeli troops will remain in established “security zones” across Gaza, southern Lebanon, and Syria indefinitely, signaling a hardening of military posture that is likely to further strain ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiations with Hamas.
The policy, revealed by Defense Minister Israel Katz, comes amid intensified military operations and growing international concern over escalating civilian casualties in Gaza.
“Unlike in the past, the (Israeli military) is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized,” Katz stated. “The military will remain in the security zones as a buffer between the enemy and (Israeli) communities in any temporary or permanent situation in Gaza — as in Lebanon and Syria.”
Katz’s declaration follows the reoccupation of vast portions of Gaza, where Israeli forces are attempting to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attacks that killed 1,200 people in Israel. At least 251 hostages were abducted, and Israel claims 59 remain in captivity, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
However, Hamas has repeatedly stated that it will not agree to a hostage release without a total Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the implementation of a permanent ceasefire — conditions now further out of reach given the latest announcement.
Civilian Casualties Mount in Gaza
Even as these political and military developments unfold, the humanitarian crisis deepens. On Wednesday, Israeli airstrikes killed 22 Palestinians, including a baby girl just weeks away from her first birthday. Health officials in Gaza said the infant’s mother was severely wounded and later seen cradling her daughter’s bloodied body before burial.
The girl’s grandfather, Nashat Seiam, recounted the family’s horror after an overnight strike hit the rooftop tent they had been living in after fleeing Rafah. “Wherever you go, death will catch up with you. There is no escape,” he said.
Israeli officials maintain they are targeting militant operatives embedded in civilian zones. Gaza’s Health Ministry, however, reported over 51,000 Palestinian deaths, with women and children making up more than half. Israel claims it has killed 20,000 militants, though it has yet to present independent verification.
Gaza in Ruins and International Law Concerns
More than 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents have been displaced due to Israel’s continuous bombardment and ground offensives. Entire neighborhoods lie in ruins, and hundreds of thousands are packed into makeshift camps without access to food, medicine, or clean water. Israel halted humanitarian imports more than a month ago, worsening the crisis.
Israel’s expanding military footprint in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria is being widely criticized as a violation of international law. Both the Palestinian Authority and neighboring Arab countries assert that the continued presence of Israeli troops in their territories amounts to military occupation.
In a statement, a leading group representing Israeli hostage families condemned the government’s priorities: “They promised that the hostages come first. In practice, Israel is choosing to seize territory before the hostages.”
The group added, “There is one solution that is desirable and feasible, and that is the release of all the hostages at once as part of an agreement, even at the cost of ending the war.”
Netanyahu, Trump Policies Under Fire
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads Israel’s most nationalist and religious government in history, has declared his intention to dismantle Hamas and repopulate Gaza through “voluntary emigration.” This concept aligns with proposals floated by former U.S. President Donald Trump to resettle Palestinians in third countries — a plan widely rejected by Arab nations and human rights organizations.
Critics say the plan echoes the 1948 Palestinian exodus during Israel’s founding and could constitute forced population transfer, violating international humanitarian law. Palestinians in Gaza have voiced fears of permanent displacement and are resisting such proposals.
Trump’s current Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has struggled to revive talks for a ceasefire more favorable to Israel. Thus far, diplomatic progress has stalled, and U.S. support for Israel’s offensive remains strong despite increasing global condemnation.
Territorial Gains and Regional Implications
The Israeli military’s establishment of security zones stretches beyond Gaza. After defeating Hezbollah militants last year, Israel refused to withdraw from parts of southern Lebanon. It also created a buffer zone in Syria after rebels ousted President Bashar Assad from several southern territories in late 2024.
Israel initially captured the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 war and later annexed the territory — a move only the United States has recognized. In the same conflict, it seized Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem — all areas Palestinians seek for a future independent state.
Despite Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, it has since maintained near-total control over its borders, coast, and airspace, intensifying that grip since Hamas’ rise to power in 2007.
Growing Global Concern
As airstrikes continue and peace talks falter, international pressure is mounting. Human rights advocates, regional governments, and global institutions are calling for an immediate ceasefire, renewed humanitarian aid, and a framework for political resolution — all of which seem distant given the current trajectory.
The conflict is no longer confined to Gaza alone; it’s reshaping regional dynamics in Syria and Lebanon and raising urgent questions about long-term occupation, military strategy, and the rights of displaced civilians.
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