Israel Defence Minister Says Full-Scale Gaza War Is Only ‘Matter of Time’

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has said it is only a matter of time before Israel returns to full-scale war in Gaza.

Katz also spoke about plans that could see Palestinians leave the territory, which has a population of around two million people.

He made the comments while responding to criticism from another right-wing political contender ahead of the October 27 elections.

Katz claimed that around 70 percent of Gaza had already been emptied of its population during Israel’s military offensive following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Most Palestinians in Gaza, however, have been displaced within the territory.

Katz said the October 2025 ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump was important because it helped secure the return of remaining hostages and included a US commitment to disarming Hamas.

“We all understand that this is not going to happen, and the IDF is prepared, once given the directive to eliminate Hamas, to finish the job so that we can also implement the migration plan,” Katz said in a statement.

Katz previously said Israel was prepared to move Palestinians out of Gaza by land and sea. He claimed the United States was discussing possible countries that could receive them.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee has denied that there is a plan to force Palestinians out of Gaza against their will.

Katz described the proposal as voluntary and claimed that most Palestinians wanted to leave.

Almost the entire population of Gaza has been internally displaced during the war, while large parts of the territory have been destroyed.

The Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack killed 1,221 people in Israel, according to official figures. Militants also took 251 people hostage.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 73,700 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

The ceasefire reduced the level of fighting, but Israeli strikes have continued. According to the provided figures, 1,375 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began.

Hamas said in late July that it was prepared to disarm, a development Trump described as a major breakthrough.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, rejected the latest phase of the plan and said Israeli forces would not withdraw until Hamas had verifiably given up all its weapons.