Israel Katz: Israeli Army Claims Readiness to 'Finish the Job' in Gaza

Wednesday 16 September 2026 - 09:59

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Wednesday that the Israeli army is ready to launch a large-scale offensive in the Gaza Strip and to implement a plan for the departure of the Palestinian population from the territory. These statements come as the ceasefire brokered by the United States in October 2025 remains marked by ongoing violence.

Speaking during the Israeli electoral campaign ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for late October, Israel Katz responded to criticisms made by Ofer Winter, a candidate from a new right-wing party. Winter had sarcastically noted that despite several years of war and the mobilization of numerous military units, a Hamas commander was still in Rafah, in southern Gaza.

Israel Katz Discusses Resumption of Operations

In response, the Israeli Defense Minister asserted that the army had already displaced a significant portion of the population of Gaza and would be ready to continue its operations if ordered to do so.

According to statements reported on Wednesday, Israel Katz declared that the army was prepared to "eliminate Hamas" and to "finish the job," before mentioning the implementation of a "migration plan."

This declaration comes just days after the minister had already stated that Israel still wished to encourage the departure of Palestinians from Gaza. In early September, he had presented this "migration" as a necessary component, in his view, of a solution for the territory.

The Plan for Palestinian Departure Contested

The question of a potential displacement of the Gaza population has sparked strong controversies. Israel Katz claims that the plan would be voluntary and that many Palestinians would wish to leave the territory.

This presentation is contested, and Washington has distanced itself from the idea of forced displacement. The American ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, notably stated that there was no plan to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza against their will.

Furthermore, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had declared on September 9 that Israel had no plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza, in a clarification following several statements from Israeli ministers on the issue.

A Ceasefire Still Marked by Violence

The ceasefire established in October 2025 allowed for the release of the last Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, according to several international sources. However, the agreement has not ended the violence in the enclave.

Israeli airstrikes continue to be reported in various areas of Gaza. Reuters reported on Tuesday the deaths of at least five Palestinians during Israeli strikes, including a Hamas commander targeted in Rafah.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the toll reported by the Gaza Health Ministry indicated, as of September 11, 2026, 1,358 deaths and 4,541 injuries since the announcement of the ceasefire, with figures likely to evolve as victims are identified.

Health authorities in Gaza later reported, as of September 15, a cumulative toll of 73,789 deaths and 174,798 injuries since October 7, 2023. These figures come from the health authorities of the enclave and do not allow for distinguishing between combatants and civilians.

The Disarmament of Hamas at the Heart of the Dispute

The future of the ceasefire remains closely linked to the question of Hamas's disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The U.S.-backed plan includes a process for the disarmament of Hamas accompanied by a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops. However, the Israeli government asserts that a complete withdrawal cannot occur before the disarmament of the Palestinian movement.

This divergence constitutes one of the main obstacles to the implementation of the second phase of the agreement. While Hamas has committed to adhering to a disarmament process as part of the American plan, Israel continues to condition its withdrawal on the elimination of the movement's military capability.

A Continuing Humanitarian Crisis

The continuation of strikes, repeated displacements, and the extent of destruction keep the population of Gaza in a particularly precarious humanitarian situation.

Civilian infrastructure remains heavily damaged, and many residents continue to live in displaced conditions. On September 16, the collapse of a building heavily damaged by the war in Gaza City further illustrated the risks faced by displaced families living in weakened structures. Reuters reports that several people were killed in this collapse.

In this context, Israel Katz's statements regarding a possible resumption of operations and a "migration" plan reignite the debate on the future of the Palestinian population of Gaza, even as the modalities of the second phase of the ceasefire remain uncertain.