Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip and stated that Israel will not withdraw its forces, despite efforts by mediators for a ceasefire that would involve troop withdrawal. This was his first visit to Gaza since a ceasefire began in October 2025 after a conflict with Hamas. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel controls 60% of Gaza and will continue military operations to eliminate threats from Hamas, which had previously attacked Israel. He rejected proposals to advance peace talks, insisting that Hamas must be fully disarmed before any military pullback occurs. During the visit, Israeli forces captured a high-ranking Hamas official, and there have been ongoing military actions, resulting in significant casualties, including at least 1,334 Palestinians since the ceasefire began, according to health officials in Gaza. The Israeli army reported five deaths among its personnel during the same period. Additionally, Israel's defense minister mentioned plans to potentially relocate Palestinians from Gaza, which has raised concerns and outrage internationally, as forced displacement is considered a war crime under international law.
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