Days after walking back remarks on establishing settlements in Palestinian enclave, defense minister asserts he didn't 'reverse' his position, still wants military pioneer sites The post Katz again vows Israel ‘will never fully withdraw’ from Gaza Strip,

Israel Katz renews vows to allow settlement building in northern Gaza, establish wide security zone around territory - Anadolu Ajansı

Sporadic clashes between the Israel Defense Forces and Gaza militants -- plus deadly IDF airstrikes -- continue despite the Gaza ceasefire.

Israel's defence minister denied any intention to resettle the Gaza Strip on Tuesday after earlier remarks that suggested Israel would one day want to do so, comments at odds with U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for the Palestinian enclave.

“In Gaza, Israel will never fully withdraw — there will be a significant security area inside the Strip, even after we move to stage two [of the peace deal] if Hamas disarms, which will enforce [security] inside Gaza to protect” Israeli communities, Katz says during a conference organized by the Makor Rishon newspaper.

A storm has battered the Gaza Strip, creating misery for displaced Palestinians and delaying the search for the body of the last Israeli hostage held by militants there.

An explosive device has detonated in Gaza and injured one Israeli soldier, prompting Israel to accuse Hamas of violating the U.S.-backed ceasefire.

Local officials said they were unable to cope with the storm because of fuel shortages and damage to equipment.

There is no longer famine in Gaza, a United Nations-backed hunger monitor announced on Friday, after an influx of humanitarian aid into the strip following a ceasefire agreed in October between Israel and Hamas.

Food access has "significantly improved," but the greatest challenge now is adequate shelter for Palestinians, officials say.

A controversial blueprint aims to turn Gaza into a luxury Middle Eastern paradise, but huge questions remain about what would happen to displaced Palestinians if it were to go ahead.