Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has announced that Israeli forces will maintain “security control” over the Gaza Strip even after the war is over, with soldiers able to act with “full freedom of action” over the territory. This announcement comes as the conflict between Israel and Gaza continues, with Syrian rebel groups also working to form a transitional government following the fall of the Assad regime.
A previous plan proposed by Katz’s predecessor, Yoav Gallant, opposed prolonged Israeli control over Gaza, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to devise a postwar plan for the territory. The unresolved question of Gaza’s governance comes a year after a deadly attack by Hamas resulted in numerous casualties.
In other developments, the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, a UN investigative body, has expressed a willingness to engage with Syria’s new authorities to secure evidence potentially implicating top officials of the former government. Additionally, German diplomats are set to hold talks with representatives of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Damascus to discuss a transitional process for Syria and the protection of minorities.
Meanwhile, US President-elect Donald Trump has characterized the ousting of Assad as an “unfriendly takeover” by Turkey. The leader of HTS, the group that toppled Assad, has stated that rebel factions will be disbanded, and fighters will join the ranks of the defense ministry. The US military has also conducted airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen, targeting a key command and control facility. The situation in the Middle East remains complex and evolving as various parties navigate the aftermath of recent developments in the region.
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