Israel reoccupies Gaza Strip, Palestinian Prime Minister says

According to Mohammad Shtayyeh, the area of the enclave used to be about 555 square kilometers, but today it is little more than 364 square kilometers

RABAT, December 4. /TASS/. The Israeli authorities are re-occupying the Gaza Strip and hatching plans to create buffer zones inside the enclave, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said at a cabinet meeting in Ramallah.

“We are facing the reoccupation of the Gaza Strip and plans to establish buffer zones inside it. We totally reject these plans and call on the whole world to reject them,” Palestinian news agency WAFA quoted the prime minister as saying.

“Buffer zones are ruining [the structure of] the Gaza Strip, while its territory should be expanded based on UN resolutions,” he added. According to Shtayyeh, the area of the enclave used to be about 555 square kilometers, but today it is little more than 364 square kilometers.

On December 3, the Times of Israel reported, citing an official, that Israel had no plans to keep troops in the enclave after the ground operation ends, but is discussing the creation of a “security buffer zone” on the border with Gaza. According to the newspaper, Jewish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shared these plans with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.