Israeli troops will not leave the buffer zones in Gaza, even after the war ends, according to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. 

On Wednesday, Hamas appeared to reject an Israeli-proposed ceasefire deal that would see the return of nearly a dozen hostages who have been held captive for more than 550 days. Israel resumed combat operations in the strip last month after a previous ceasefire agreement fell apart before Israel and Hamas could reach phase two.

Israeli Prime Minister Benamin Netanyahu, center, with Defense Minister Israel Katz, right, Israeli Defense Forces chief Eyal Zamir and other security officials are holding a security assessment in the Kirya in Tel Aviv. (Prime Minister of Israel )

Since it resumed operations in March, Israel has been condemned by leaders of international institutions who have called for an immediate ceasefire.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement that he was “very concerned” about the situation and the lack of humanitarian aid going into the strip. Katz confirmed on Wednesday that humanitarian aid was being blocked in order to put pressure on Hamas, which has been accused of stealing aid. 

A Palestinian boy carries an aid box provided by UNRWA, amid a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City, on Feb. 3, 2025. (REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas)

Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon condemned Guterres’ statement, saying “The U.N. secretary-general has no problem explicitly condemning Israel’s defensive war in Gaza and unequivocally calling for a ceasefire. Yet his statements, once again, fail to mention the hostages and fail to mention Hamas, whose barbaric actions on October 7, 2023, triggered this war.”

“This war Hamas started will not be over until all of our remaining 59 hostages are returned home from brutal captivity,” Danon added.