Israeli minister says Gaza settlement plans await approval

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Monday that his ministry has completed plans to establish three new Israeli settlements in the northern Gaza Strip and is awaiting final approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The proposal, which would mark a significant escalation in Israel's post-war policy for the territory, has drawn immediate condemnation from Palestinian factions and risks violating the terms of an existing U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement.

Speaking during a visit to the border city of Sderot, Smotrich stated that the Settlement Administration within the Defense Ministry, a body he oversees, has finished the groundwork for the communities. He called on Netanyahu and the defense minister to grant authorization so the projects could begin immediately. Smotrich framed the settlements as a necessary security measure, arguing they would create a protective belt for Israeli towns near Gaza. He also claimed the Israel Defense Forces currently control nearly 70 percent of the Gaza Strip and urged a completion of what he termed the "conquest" of the remaining territory.

The announcement represents a move from advocacy to operational planning for...