Israel says it intends to maintain security control over Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said that Tel Aviv is going to maintain control over Gaza's security, including through buffer zones and checkpoints. The Times of Israel (TToI) reported on December 25.

"In Gaza, we will also ensure that there are safe spaces, buffer zones and command posts that will contribute to the security of the cities," Katz said.

He said Israel will continue to work "to achieve the two objectives of the war - to bring all the hostages home and to defeat [radical Palestinian movement] Hamas."

There will be no Hamas in the Gaza Strip, instead "a different reality will be created here," the defense minister said.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will be able to act in any way to achieve its goals and prevent possible threats, Katz noted.

Long Conclusions: Israel delays withdrawal from Lebanon

IDF troops left only one town during the truce with Hezbollah

Earlier in the day, Israel put forward a new list of conditions for a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a ceasefire, which Hamas said was delaying negotiations.

At the same time, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the time that an Israeli delegation would leave Doha, where negotiations on the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip are underway, to hold "internal consultations."

Earlier, on December 23, Netanyahu said that there was "some progress" in the Gaza Strip ceasefire and hostage exchange talks. Netanyahu emphasized that the progress was due to military pressure on Hamas in Gaza and the death of Yahya Sinwar, the head of the movement's politburo.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian radical movement Hamas launched a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Israel began retaliatory strikes the same day.

The Palestinians intend to return the borders between the two countries that existed before the 1967 Six-Day War, with possible land swaps. Palestine wants to establish its state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and make East Jerusalem its capital. Israel refuses these conditions.