Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says troops will indefinitely remain in the buffer zone they created in the Gaza Strip.
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IsraelitroopswillnotleavethebufferzonesinGaza,evenafterthewarends,accordingtoIsraeliDefenseMinisterIsraelKatz.
OnWednesday,HamasappearedtorejectanIsraeli-proposedceasefiredealthatwouldseethereturnofnearlyadozenhostageswhohavebeenheldcaptiveformorethan550days.IsraelresumedcombatoperationsinthestriplastmonthafterapreviousceasefireagreementfellapartbeforeIsraelandHamascouldreachphasetwo.
HAMASREJECTSISRAELICEASEFIRE,HOSTAGERETURNDEALOVERDISARMAMENTDEMANDS
“Unlikeinthepast,theIDFisnotwithdrawingfromareasthathavebeenclearedandcaptured.The[IsraeliDefenseForces]IDFwillremaininthesecurityzonesasabufferbetweentheenemyandIsraelicommunitiesunderanytemporaryorpermanentarrangementinGaza—justasitdoesinLebanonandSyria,”KatzsaidinastatementonWednesday.
ThebufferzonesthatIsraelestablishedalongtheGazabordermakeup30%ofthestrip,accordingtotheTimesofIsrael.Theoutletalsoreportedt
