In a revealing statement, Avi Dichter, Israel’s minister for food security and a member of the security cabinet, has confirmed that the Israeli military will maintain a presence in Gaza for the foreseeable future. This long-term deployment, likened to Israel’s control over the West Bank, comes amid reports of extensive new military infrastructure being built by the IDF across the Gaza Strip.
IDF Establishes Bases and Clears Land in Gaza
According to recently demobilized IDF reservists, the scale of Israel’s military buildup in Gaza is staggering. Large swaths of land in the northern and central parts of the territory have been cleared to make way for a network of bases and roads. One officer described spending much of his 70-day deployment demolishing houses in the Netzarim corridor, a military zone stretching from the Mediterranean coast to Gaza’s eastern perimeter fence.
We are not again at the beginning … but we’re definitely not at the beginning of the end because we still have a lot of work to do.
– Avi Dichter, Israeli Minister for Food Security
The extensive use of explosives to level buildings on either side of the Netzarim corridor has reportedly left some IDF units short on supplies. This aggressive campaign to reshape Gaza’s landscape and solidify Israel’s military presence has raised concerns about the long-term displacement of Palestinian residents.
Gaza Death Toll Rises as Israel Targets Hamas
As the IDF digs in, the human cost of the conflict continues to mount. Israeli airstrikes on Thursday killed at least 21 Palestinians across Gaza, according to local medics, as tanks pushed deeper into the territory. The escalation followed a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which had raised hopes for a similar deal with Hamas.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Hamas must be completely destroyed, with Israel retaining lasting control over parts of Gaza. Despite months of failed ceasefire talks, Dichter maintains that the IDF will continue to strike “terror targets” and fight against newly recruited Hamas members.
We know that [Hamas] recruited more people … They have less capabilities but they have new people.
– Avi Dichter, Israeli Minister for Food Security
Uncertainty Surrounds Gaza’s Future Governance
As the Israeli military settles in for a prolonged stay, questions remain about how Gaza will be governed and rebuilt. Israel has rejected proposals for a reformed Palestinian Authority to take power, but no clear alternative has been presented. Dichter suggested that the IDF may even take on the role of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
Hamas will not run Gaza, so who is going to run, I don’t know to tell you now.
– Avi Dichter, Israeli Minister for Food Security
The idea of private contractors guarding aid convoys has been floated as a potential solution, but the specifics remain unclear. With much of Gaza lying in ruins and its population repeatedly displaced, the urgent need for reconstruction and stable governance is evident. However, Israel’s apparent commitment to a long-term military presence and the ongoing conflict with Hamas suggest that the path forward will be fraught with challenges.
As the world watches, the fate of Gaza and its people hangs in the balance. The scale of the Israeli military’s entrenchment in the territory and the lack of a clear exit strategy raise profound questions about the future of the Gaza Strip and the prospects for a just and lasting peace in the region.
