Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz instructed the army not to reduce the number of troops stationed in settlements on the Gaza Strip border.
According to a statement from the ministry, Katz ordered that no troop reduction be carried out for now "in order to strengthen the sense of security of the area's residents." The statement said the decision was made following a situation assessment chaired by the Defense Minister last week and was a response to the security demands of settlers around Gaza.
The Israeli army has maintained an uninterrupted presence in settlements on the Gaza border since October 7, 2023.
Despite a ceasefire agreement that came into effect last October, the Israeli army continues its daily attacks on Gaza. No attacks from Gaza have been recorded since the agreement.
In the attacks launched by Israel on October 8, 2023, approximately 73,000 Palestinians lost their lives, while more than 173,000 were injured. Ninety percent of civilian infrastructure in Gaza has also been largely destroyed.