Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared in a public statement on April 16 that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) will remain entrenched in so-called “security zones” in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria indefinitely.
Katz emphasized that the IOF will not withdraw from the areas it has seized, regardless of any temporary or permanent agreements, using the pretext of establishing buffer zones to shield Israeli settlements from future attacks originating in the very territories it occupies.
While Israel continues to justify its military presence as essential to its national security, its actions exemplify a textbook case of military occupation. Many observers argue that these moves are part of Israel’s longstanding strategy of expanding its territorial control.
“Unlike in the past, the [IOF] is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized,” Katz said, offering a stark admission of Israel’s intent to deepen its occupation.
This latest development follows Katz’s recent announcement of the creation of the “Morag Corridor,” a project that severs Rafah from the rest of the Gaza Strip. At the same time, he affirmed the continuation of the Netzarim Corridor, which cuts Gaza in half.
Earlier this year, Katz also stated that the IOF would remain in its newly established “buffer zone” across five military outposts in southern Lebanon, irrespective of any ongoing border negotiations with Lebanon.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has condemned Israel’s continued presence, asserting that it is obstructing the Lebanese army’s ability to fully assume control as required by the ceasefire terms reached between Hezbollah and Israel.
Under that agreement, which ended a year-long war in November, both sides committed to withdrawing from southern Lebanon and transferring authority to the Lebanese army by February — a commitment that Israel has failed to honor.
Since the ceasefire took effect in November, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed over 70 civilians. On Wednesday alone, two people were killed in Israeli drone strikes targeting southern Lebanon.
Israel has occupied the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967, following its occupation during the Six-Day War. A 1974 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria designated the area as a demilitarized buffer zone.
Read also:
After the ousting of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Israel seized the opportunity created by the instability to deepen its military foothold, constructing new military infrastructure across the region.
By February, satellite imagery published by Al Jazeera confirmed that Israel had established six military zones within the demilitarized buffer area, along with an additional military site being built beyond that zone, squarely within Syrian territory.
As Israel’s total blockade on Gaza entered its second month, Katz reaffirmed his intent to continue the siege, stating that it is “one of the main pressure tools that stops Hamas from using this means against the population.”
“In the current reality, no one is going to allow any humanitarian aid into Gaza, and no preparations are being made to allow any aid of this kind,” he added.
Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar echoed this policy, declaring that the “despicable murderers” are undeserving of any humanitarian support from either civilian or military channels.
“Only hellfire should be poured on the makers of terrorism until the last hostage returns from Gaza,” Zohar posted on X, continuing to use the Israeli captives as a human shield for the state’s genocidal campaign.
Israel escalated its assault on Gaza in mid-March following the collapse of a short-lived ceasefire brokered on January 19. Israel had violated that agreement nearly 1,000 times and refused to proceed to the second phase, which would have included the release of Israeli captives — but also required the withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza, a step incompatible with Israel’s expansionist goals.
The deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid as a method of warfare is a war crime under the Rome Statute at the International Criminal Court (ICC)— and constitutes one of the core charges against former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that lead to the issuing of arrest warrants against them last year.
