Despite the so-called ‘ceasefire,’ Israeli attacks and aerial surveillance continue.
On Tuesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that the Zionist regime will “never withdraw” from Gaza and plans to deploy infantry units (Nahal) in areas where settlements were dismantled.
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He referred to the 2005 Disengagement Plan, championed by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, which involved abandoning four settlements in the West Bank and 21 in Gaza, where approximately 8,000 settlers lived.
However, after pressure from the United States, the Defense Ministry backtracked and clarified that Katz was speaking in a “security context” and that there are no plans to establish new settlements in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government approved 19 new Jewish settlements in Palestinian territory. Israel has settled more than 500,000 settlers in the West Bank and 200,000 in East Jerusalem, which hinders the creation of a Palestinian state.
The ceasefire, in effect since October, includes a gradual withdrawal, a ban on new civilian settlements, a permanent Israeli security perimeter, and the “Yellow Line,” which keeps half of Gaza under military occupation.
Nevertheless, the violence perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces since October 2023 has left more than 1,000 Palestinians dead only in the West Bank. The number of airstrikes has also increased, along with house demolitions.
Israel has killed at least 70,492 Palestinians and injured at least 171,195 since the start of its genocide in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/4eDtJGlLqH
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 24, 2025
While Israel was supposed to allow humanitarian aid, restrictions remain, and attacks continue intermittently, with drones monitoring the area, and troops firing on Palestinians who approach the Yellow Line.
On Dec. 19, the United Nations warned that the entire population of Gaza suffers from hunger; 77% of them face acute food insecurity, and thousands of children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers will suffer from acute malnutrition until October 2026.
The death toll in Gaza exceeds 70,900, the majority of whom are civilians, including more than 20,000 children, and the number of wounded has reached 171,000 since the start of the Israeli offensive in October 2023.
While the first phase of the Gaza peace plan, in effect since October, stipulated a cessation of hostilities, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of humanitarian aid, Israeli attacks and aerial surveillance continue.
The second phase of the agreement proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump includes a complete Israeli withdrawal, the disarmament of Palestinian militias, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the creation of a transitional government, which remains blocked by Israel.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | Middle East: Medical authorities in Gaza reported that five people were killed due to Israeli aggression, despite the ceasefire agreement. pic.twitter.com/ZThhl9nu4W
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 18, 2025
teleSUR: JP
Source: Cubadebate – EFE
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