Settlements

Israel 'will never withdraw from Gaza,' Katz stresses despite US anger on settlement rhetoric

"A large area of Gaza will be surrounded to protect settlements," Defense Minister Israel Katz said. "In my vision and in due time, Nahal nucleus groups will be established in the northern part."

Defense Minister Israel Katz attends a conference of the Israeli newspaper Makor Rishon in Jerusalem, December 25, 2025
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar at the Knesset, December 2, 2025; illustrative.

Foreign criticism of West Bank settlements 'discriminatory against Jews,' Sa'ar says

Israeli flags flutter at the entrance to Evyatar, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, November 30, 2025.

UK, Canada, Germany, others condemn Israel's West Bank settlement plan

Then-foreign minister Israel Katz looks on in Jerusalem, November 7, 2024

US accuses Israel of 'provoking' Arab nations as Katz says 'no intention' to resettle Gaza


Defense Minister Katz retracts claim Israel will resettle northern Gaza with Nahal nucleus groups

“There are opportunities here that have not existed for a very long time,” Israel's defense minister said, contradicting previous statements by PM Netanyahu.

Smoke rises from Gaza as right-wing activists take part in a rally organized by settlers groups to promote Israel's resettling in Gaza, near the border, July 30, 2025

IDF evacuates Israeli settlers who crossed into Gaza, demanding resettlement

The Nahala group said in a statement that "the Israeli flag was raised for the first time since the October 7 massacre in Gaza," and demanded that it must only be controlled by Israeli forces.

Israeli settlers from the Nahala movement seen in Gaza after infiltrating across Israel's border, December 18, 2025

Israel grants legal status to 19 West Bank settlements, including two vacated in 2005 disengagement

The move follows government approval on Wednesday for the construction of 764 housing units across three settlements in the West Bank.

An Israeli flag flutters, with Ma'aleh Adumim is visible in the background, in the West Bank, August 14, 2025.

Peace Now CEO demands dismissal of Central Command Chief Avi Bluth over West Bank settlement policy

Bluth failed in his duty and "in practice turned the IDF into an aid force for the establishment of illegal Jewish terror outposts" in the West Bank, Peace Now CEO Lior Amihai argued.

IDF Central Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth (C) meets with Israel Police officers, local leaders in the West Bank; illustrative.

Smotrich approves hundreds of housing units in multiple West Bank settlements

The units will be spread out between Hashmonaim, just over the Green Line in central Israel, and Givat Zeev and Beitar Illit near Jerusalem.

 A construction site of a new residential neighborhood at the mixed religious-secular Jewish settlement in the West Bank Kfar Adumim, March 9, 2023.

Netanyahu orders evacuation of 14 illegal outposts, removal of Jewish extremists in West Bank - N12

"These outposts have become forward positions from which raids are carried out on Palestinian villages," N12 quoted security officials as saying.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the nation after Israel killed Hezbollah's second-in-command and military commander, Ali Tabatabai, in Beirut. November 23, 2025.

Netanyahu leads meeting on West Bank riots, Katz defends axing administrative detention for Jews

IDF's Central Command chief: Conventional solutions for hilltop youth insufficient • Israel Katz: Administrative detentions only increased hatred and violence

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz seen in the Knesset plenum, December 16, 2024

Defense Minister Katz finally condemns Jewish extremist violence against Palestinians

Katz's condemnation came months after a spike in such attacks, six days after a new mass attack last week, and after yet another mass attack earlier Monday.

Defense Minister Israel Katz attends the state ceremony marking 52 years since the Yom Kippur War, held at the military cemetery at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl, on October 5, 2025.

Netanyahu condemns West Bank riots, vows action against Jewish extremists

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, several government officials, and opposition figures condemned the Jewish extremists who rioted in the West Bank on Monday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at the plenum hall of the Knesset, in Jerusalem, November 10, 2025

WATCH: Hilltop Youth, security forces clash during demolition of illegal settlement extension

Gush Etzion Regional Council reached out to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to request his assistance in dealing with the "anarchy" developing in the area in a letter sent in September.

Israeli security forces clash with Jewish settlers during the evacuation of Illegal structures in Tzur Misgavi, an outpost in Gush Etzion, in the West Bank, November 17, 2025

Jewish settlers set fire to Palestinian mosque as West Bank violence runs rampant

Graffiti was found on the walls of the mosque with seemingly pointed messages to the IDF Central Command chief, who referred to Jewish violence against Palestinians as terrorism.

A Palestinian man inspects burned property in a mosque near Salfit in the West Bank, November 13, 2025