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Israeli Defense Minister Says No Plan to Resettle Gaza After Hinting at One

Palestinians amid rubble of destroyed buildings in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip (AFP)
Palestinians amid rubble of destroyed buildings in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip (AFP)
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Israeli Defense Minister Says No Plan to Resettle Gaza After Hinting at One

Palestinians amid rubble of destroyed buildings in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip (AFP)
Palestinians amid rubble of destroyed buildings in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip (AFP)

Israel's defense 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 US President Donald Trump's plan for the Palestinian enclave. 

Defense Minister Israel Katz, speaking at a settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said the military would never leave all of Gaza and planned to station a type of unit - Nahal - that has historically played a role in establishing Israeli communities, including settlements. 

After some Israeli media reported the comment as a plan to resettle Gaza, where Israel dismantled settlements in 2005, Katz issued a statement saying "the government has no intention of establishing settlements in the Gaza Strip". 

According to the US-backed peace plan signed by both Israel and Hamas in October, the ‌Israeli military will ‌gradually withdraw completely from the coastal enclave and Israel will not re-establish ‌civilian ⁠settlements there. 

The plan ‌nevertheless provides for an Israeli "security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat." 

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said that Katz's announcement was "a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement" and "completely goes against" Trump's peace plan. 

WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly ruled out the possibility of re-establishing settlements in Gaza throughout the two-year Gaza war, although some ultra-nationalist members of his coalition seek to reoccupy Gaza. 

Katz made his initial comments in the West Bank settlement of Beit El - near the Palestinian Authority's administrative headquarters of Ramallah - where he announced 1,200 housing units would be ⁠built. 

"When the time comes, in northern Gaza ... we will establish Nahal (military) units instead of the (Israeli) communities that were displaced. We will do so in ‌the right way at the right time," he said. 

In his statement ‍clarifying the remark, Katz said "the reference to the integration ‍of Nahal ... in the northern Gaza Strip was made in a security context only." 

NETANYAHU, TRUMP PLAN TO ‍MEET NEXT WEEK 

The comments point to complications facing Trump's Gaza plan, ahead of his meeting next week with Netanyahu at the White House. 

Trump's plan secured a ceasefire in October and the release of the remaining living hostages seized in the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led raids into southern Israel. 

But there has been little sign of progress towards the other goals. Hamas has so far refused to disarm, as required by the plan, which also foresees the establishment of a transitional authority and the deployment of a multinational force. 

Katz, in his comments at ⁠Beit El, said: "We are located deep inside Gaza and we will never leave all of Gaza. There will never be such a thing. We are there to protect, to prevent what happened." 

"We don't trust anybody else to protect our citizens," he said, pointing to what he said was also a need to be also in Lebanon and Syria. 

Israeli settlement building in the West Bank - part of the territory where Palestinians aim to establish a state - has accelerated under Netanyahu. 

Palestinians and the international community for the most part consider the settlements to be illegal. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties to the land. 

Speaking about the West Bank, Katz said: "Netanyahu's government is a settlements government... it strives for action. If we can get sovereignty, we will bring about sovereignty... We are in the practical sovereignty era," Katz said. "There are opportunities here that haven't been here for a long time." 

Israel is heading into an election ‌year in 2026 and settlers make up part of Katz and Netanyahu's Likud party voter base. 

A Palestinian official condemned Katz's initial comments, calling them a dangerous escalation. 

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Arab World

Baghdad Says Faction Attacks are ‘Individual Attempts’

Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces stand guard during a pro-Iran rally in Tahrir Square on April 2, 2026 (AFP)
Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces stand guard during a pro-Iran rally in Tahrir Square on April 2, 2026 (AFP)
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Baghdad Says Faction Attacks are ‘Individual Attempts’

Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces stand guard during a pro-Iran rally in Tahrir Square on April 2, 2026 (AFP)
Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces stand guard during a pro-Iran rally in Tahrir Square on April 2, 2026 (AFP)

The Iraqi government moved on Friday to contain the fallout from an escalating regional war, after the US issued sharp warnings of possible attacks on its interests inside Iraq.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani vowed to pursue those behind attacks and the kidnapping of foreigners, saying the law would be enforced “without red lines.”

The move comes as the confrontation between the US and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other, spills further into Iraq, through rocket and drone attacks and mounting humanitarian and economic strains, including an extended closure of Iraqi airspace.

Iraq’s foreign ministry, responding to a US Embassy statement urging American citizens to leave immediately, said Iraq “is not a party to the conflict and does not wish to be part of it,” reaffirming a policy of distancing itself from the crisis.

The embassy warned that “Iran-aligned militias” could carry out attacks in the near term, underscoring fears that the conflict could spread into Iraq.

The foreign ministry said such incidents were “individual attempts” that do not reflect state policy, adding that some actors may take unilateral steps “contrary to the state’s direction.”

It described the actions as “illegal” and said holding the state responsible amounted to “unjustified generalization,” as Iraq faces growing pressure given its geography and ties with both Washington and Tehran.

Security push

Sudani chaired a security meeting at the Interior Ministry’s intelligence headquarters with senior officials to address threats to diplomatic missions, vital facilities, and the kidnapping of foreigners.

He called for “maximum measures” to pursue those responsible and stressed that enforcing the law would face “no red lines,” regardless of the party involved. He also ordered stronger intelligence efforts and higher readiness as regional tensions intensified.

This comes as uncertainty persists over the fate of American journalist Shelly Kittleson kidnapped in Baghdad, with no group claiming responsibility, highlighting ongoing challenges in securing foreign interests.

Observers say Baghdad’s description of the attacks as “individual” aims to avoid direct responsibility and preserve a delicate balance in relations with Washington and Tehran.

Unclear strike

A security source said an airstrike hit a gravel plant in al-Rutba district in western Anbar province. “Unknown” warplanes carried out the strike early Friday, with no casualties or significant damage reported. Authorities have opened an investigation.

Local data showed the Kurdistan region has been hit by 614 rockets and drones since Feb. 28 through midday Friday.

The attacks killed 14 people and wounded 93, with Erbil accounting for 484 projectiles, Sulaymaniyah 103, Duhok 25, and Halabja two.

The figures underscore mounting pressure on the region as it remains within the wider theater of confrontation.

Displacement rises

A report by the International Organization for Migration said regional tensions have begun to drive internal displacement.

It recorded 90 families displaced in Sulaymaniyah province by March 24 due to fears of drone strikes.

Baghdad and Erbil also saw limited displacement, with residents leaving affected areas to stay with relatives or in rented homes in rural areas.

Iraq’s civil aviation authority extended the suspension of air traffic for seven more days, from 12 p.m. Friday to the same time on April 10, describing the move as a temporary precaution based on ongoing security assessments.

The extension reflects fears of a wider escalation or the use of Iraqi airspace in further military action, leaving Baghdad to navigate a difficult balance: preventing the country from becoming an open conflict arena while maintaining ties with regional and international powers.

 

Arab World

Israeli Army: Hezbollah Disarmament Needs Full Occupation of Lebanon

An Israeli military truck transports a tank in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near the Lebanese border (AFP)
An Israeli military truck transports a tank in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near the Lebanese border (AFP)
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Israeli Army: Hezbollah Disarmament Needs Full Occupation of Lebanon

An Israeli military truck transports a tank in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near the Lebanese border (AFP)
An Israeli military truck transports a tank in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near the Lebanese border (AFP)

A senior Israeli military commander said on Friday that disarming Hezbollah was not part of the current war objectives, and that the army’s plan instead focused on razing entire villages in southern Lebanon and forcibly displacing residents to create a buffer zone imposing a new border reality.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the war aimed to achieve what he called the “top objective” of disarming Hezbollah and that the government remained committed to it.

The spokesperson for the Israeli army later walked back the commander’s remarks, saying the military remained committed to the long-term goal of disarming Hezbollah through a broad, gradual effort.

The current operation weakens Hezbollah and will contribute to its disarmament over time, the spokesperson noted.

A military source said Israel would act if the Lebanese government failed to disarm the group, adding that Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem was within the scope of Israeli assassination plans.

Former general Yom-Tov Samia said dismantling Hezbollah would require targeting the Lebanese state itself, including its infrastructure, to pressure the public against the group.

Despite the clarification, the initial remarks continued to reverberate. Military analysts and reserve generals said they reflected a blunt reality: the current war cannot destroy Hezbollah.

They said such a goal would require full occupation of Lebanon and sweeping searches across all towns and villages, which would exceed the scope of the current operation.

Amid the visible rift, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed a cabinet meeting scheduled for Friday, replacing it with limited consultations before rescheduling it for Saturday evening.

A military source said the army would present a plan to the cabinet to completely destroy Lebanese border villages and establish a depopulated security zone, barring residents from returning to areas along what Israel calls the “contact line,” with 20 Christian villages exempted.

The army says Hezbollah has tried over the past year to rebuild its infrastructure along the border. It proposes turning a 3-4 km strip into a forward defensive zone.

The plan calls for the total destruction of dozens of villages near Israeli towns, from Kfarkela opposite Metula to Naqoura opposite Shlomi, including the demolition of all infrastructure and a permanent ban on residents returning.

The military says the plan has received legal approvals, arguing that villages used by Hezbollah constitute “incriminated” infrastructure and that their existence would enable the group to rebuild in the future.

It added that after a November 2024 ceasefire, Hezbollah fighters returned to border villages and attempted to rebuild underground infrastructure and deploy weapons not previously detected.

The army said it would be impossible after the current operation to revert to the existing border, as Hezbollah would return, requiring a new line.

The proposed model mirrors what the army calls the “yellow line” in the Gaza Strip, a 2-4 km strip cleared of locals and controlled by Israeli forces with forward positions.

A senior Israeli officer said the plan differs from Israel’s past security zone in southern Lebanon, stressing that civilians would not be allowed to return.

The officer acknowledged that setting Hezbollah’s disarmament as a war goal had been “overly ambitious,” saying current constraints, including a prolonged war and the need to focus on Iran, prevent making it an immediate objective.

 

Arab World

Israel Says Striking Hezbollah Sites in Beirut after Destroying Bridge

File photo of a bridge destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Dalfy, Lebanon on March 26, 2026. Stringer, Reuters
File photo of a bridge destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Dalfy, Lebanon on March 26, 2026. Stringer, Reuters
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Israel Says Striking Hezbollah Sites in Beirut after Destroying Bridge

File photo of a bridge destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Dalfy, Lebanon on March 26, 2026. Stringer, Reuters
File photo of a bridge destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Dalfy, Lebanon on March 26, 2026. Stringer, Reuters

The Israeli military said Saturday it had begun striking "Hezbollah infrastructure" in Beirut after it destroyed a bridge in eastern Lebanon to prevent the Iran-backed group's reinforcements from crossing.

An AFP journalist heard two loud explosions in the capital within half an hour early Saturday and saw smoke billowing from one of them, said AFP.

Local media reported two strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, a locality that has been a target of Israeli strikes in recent days as the military presses on with its ground invasion in the country's south.

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel to avenge the US-Israeli attack that killed Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

On Friday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said a blast at one of its positions in the country's south near the border wounded three peacekeepers, the third similar incident in days.

Israel's military had warned that it would target two adjacent bridges over the Litani River in the area "to prevent the transfer of reinforcements and military equipment".

The Lebanese state-run National News Agency (NNA) said: "Israeli warplanes targeted the bridge that links Sohmor with Mashghara, leading to its destruction."

Lebanese local media reported that a second bridge was also hit.

The strikes in Sohmor continued into early Saturday, with the NNA reporting the town's center being hit twice as warplanes roared in the skies.

Israel has previously struck five other bridges over the Litani in the country's south, including most of the main routes crossing the waterway.

The river runs around 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border, an area where Israel has said it wants to maintain "security control".

Also in Sohmor, two people were killed and 15 wounded in an Israeli strike that hit "as worshippers were leaving the town's mosque" after Friday prayers, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

Lebanese authorities say more than 1,300 people have been killed in a month of hostilities.

- 'No longer afraid' -

UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel said an explosion inside a UN position injured three peacekeepers, adding that the origin was unknown.

Israel's army accused Hezbollah of launching a rocket that hit the post.

On the edge of the southern suburbs of Beirut, Christians marked Good Friday in Shiyah with a procession around Saint Maroun Church.

Resident Hala Farah, 62, said she had never before missed the religious rites, even during repeated conflicts in the country.

"We're always here, we have to hold on for the future of our children," she told AFP at the entrance to the overflowing church.

Another worshipper, Patricia Haddad, 32, said she was no longer afraid of the bombardments.

"We got used to it, unfortunately," she said.

Israel's army has said it has struck more than 3,500 targets across Lebanon since last month, while Hezbollah said it had carried out 1,309 operations against Israeli targets.

On Sunday, an Indonesian peacekeeper was killed when a projectile exploded in a UNIFIL position, while another blast the following day killed two more Indonesian troops.

According to the UN, 97 force members have been killed in violence since UNIFIL was first established to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli forces after they invaded Lebanon in 1978.

The force's mandate expires at the end of this year.