Israel’s government has unveiled plans to establish new settlements in Gaza and expand construction in the occupied West Bank, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition pushes ahead with measures expected to reshape Israeli control over Palestinian territories before the country’s October elections.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced plans to establish three Nahal outposts in northern Gaza. Nahal outposts are military communities that have historically served as the first stage before the creation of permanent civilian settlements.
Speaking during a visit to Israeli-controlled areas of Gaza, Katz said the proposed outposts would be located in areas that once housed Israeli settlements before the 2005 disengagement.
“I intend to establish three Nahal outposts, which is also military entities, in those places that were [Israeli settlements] in northern Gaza,” he said during an interview with Channel 14.
At the same time, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced funding worth 1.3 billion shekels (about $400 million) to support the expansion of dozens of Israeli settlements across the occupied West Bank.
Israeli media reported that the cabinet approved the funding last month but did not immediately disclose the decision amid concerns over possible opposition from the United States.
Meanwhile, Major General Avi Bluth, who oversees Israeli military operations in the West Bank, praised residents of unauthorised settler outposts, describing them as partners in maintaining security.
During a meeting with representatives of the Farms Association, an organisation representing settlement outposts, Bluth said he appreciated their activities and viewed them as working alongside the military.
The remarks have drawn criticism from rights groups, which accuse settler groups of driving Palestinians from their communities through violence and intimidation.
The United Nations Human Rights Office recently alleged that settler violence had become closely linked to state policies.
“Settler violence is state violence,” the UN office said in a report examining violence and settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israeli anti-settlement organisation Peace Now also criticised the government’s latest moves, warning that construction was accelerating ahead of the country’s October 27 elections.
The group’s settlement expert, Hagit Ofran, said work was already underway at several sites.
“The government is on a reckless pre-election sprint to raid the public purse in order to create facts on the ground,” Ofran said.
Dror Etkes, founder of the advocacy group Kerem Navot, said Nahal outposts have historically served as temporary military installations before becoming civilian settlements.
“The military is only the first phase, which aims to prepare it for future settlement,” Etkes said.
“All together, dozens of Israeli settlements in the West Bank were established in this way.”
During the visit, Katz also commented on the destruction across northern Gaza, saying he viewed the situation positively.
According to Major General Tamir Yadai, Israel’s deputy chief of staff, Israeli forces now control about 65 per cent of Gaza.
“I don’t know how to describe this, other than victory, when you control 65% of the territory, when you have killed over 70,000 terrorists here,” Yadai said.
His remarks have generated controversy, with critics questioning the casualty figures and whether they included civilians. Palestinian health authorities say tens of thousands of those killed in the conflict have been women and children.
The Israeli military later said it was still reviewing casualty data and had not yet completed an official assessment.
“The IDF is currently conducting a staff assessment regarding the breakdown and categorisation of its casualties. The process has not yet been completed and has not been presented to the political echelon,” a military spokesperson said.
The spokesperson declined to comment on Bluth’s remarks about settler groups, stating that settlement policy remains a political matter rather than a military one.
