Israel's Defence Minister Katz Vows to 'Finish Job' in Gaza, Relocate Population

Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has indicated that a resumption of widespread military operations in Gaza, aimed at compelling the displacement of its two million Palestinian inhabitants, is imminent. His comments came amidst a political exchange with a rival right-wing candidate in the lead-up to the October 27 elections. Katz highlighted that approximately 70 percent of the Gaza Strip had already seen its population evacuated since the offensive that followed the October 7, 2023 assault by Hamas.

Katz elaborated that the ceasefire deal, brokered by US President Donald Trump in October 2025, was deemed highly significant by Israelis. This agreement was expected to guarantee the release of remaining captives and secure an American pledge to disarm Hamas. However, Katz expressed doubts about the ceasefire's full implementation, stating, “We all understand that this is not going to happen, and the IDF is prepared, once given the directive to eliminate Hamas, to finish the job so that we can also implement the migration plan.”

Earlier, Minister Katz had stated Israel's readiness to remove Palestinians from Gaza via both land and sea routes. He further claimed that Israel was awaiting the United States, which he asserted was engaged in discussions regarding potential relocation sites for the Gazan populace. Nevertheless, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee refuted the existence of any scheme to involuntarily displace individuals from Gaza. Katz characterized this proposed migration as voluntary, arguing that the majority of Palestinians desired to depart.

Currently, nearly all of Gaza's residents have been internally displaced, and a significant portion of the territory lies in ruins. The Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023, resulted in the deaths of 1,221 individuals, based on official statistics, making it the deadliest attack ever recorded in Israel. Additionally, 251 people were seized by militants and taken as hostages into Gaza. In response, Israel's subsequent military operations in Gaza have claimed the lives of over 73,700 people, as reported by the health ministry in the territory.

Despite an 11-month-old ceasefire that brought down the general intensity of combat, consistent Israeli airstrikes have persisted in Gaza, leading to the deaths of 1,375 Palestinians since the truce began. In late July, Hamas signaled its willingness to disarm, a move praised by Trump as a significant advancement. However, Israeli Prime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed this latest part of the plan, insisting that Israel would not withdraw until Hamas demonstrably decommissions all its weaponry.