Netanyahu, Katz quietly approved Gaza reconstruction effort inside Yellow Line: report

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz quietly approved new development and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip two weeks ago, Army Radio reported. The plan, according to the report, involves building new living spaces for Palestinians east of Rafah, within the "Yellow Line," specifically for those outside of Hamas' control.

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distorts the facts and recycles old information.

Security sources indicated that Gazan Palestinians would carry out the construction, with their backgrounds being checked by the Shin Bet (Israeli Security Agency). However, the Prime Minister's Office issued a strong denial, calling the Army Radio report a distortion of facts and a recycling of old information. They clarified that the project is a pre-existing UAE pilot program that has been ongoing for several months and denied that Gazan workers would be involved in critical infrastructure work.

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We want Gaza to recover - the process can begin in any demilitarized zone.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev expressed support for Gaza's recovery, stating that the process could begin in any demilitarized zone. Conversely, protest groups like the Israel Envelope Forum and Tzav 9 condemned the reported approval. They argued that "there is no demilitarized zone that is not held by our fighters" and warned that Hamas would return to any rehabilitated zone with weapons if the IDF withdraws. They characterized the plan not as reconstruction but as a "resuscitation plan for terrorism," emphasizing that complete demilitarization must precede any reconstruction talks.

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There is no demilitarized zone that is not held by our fighters. As soon as the IDF withdraws from there, Hamas will return to a rehabilitated zone with weapons to be turned against us. This is not a reconstruction plan - it is a resuscitation plan for terrorism. Dismantling Hamas terrorists and complete demilitarization are a critical obligation before talks about reconstruction begin.