'Complete victory' remains goal in Gaza, says Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz

Jerusalem: Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz affirmed on Tuesday that Israel is committed to achieving a "complete victory" in the ongoing war in Gaza. Speaking at a multi-front situation assessment with Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir and other senior commanders, Katz stated that Israel is "at the closest point to meeting the war's goals," highlighting Gaza and Yemen as the two remaining active theatres where full victory is necessary.

Katz's remarks come amidst current ceasefire talks in Doha, Qatar, with Israeli media reporting significant progress earlier in the day. According to a statement from the minister's office, Katz emphasised that the primary goals of the war remain the return of all Israeli hostages and the surrender of Hamas.

Looking beyond the current conflicts, the Defence Minister also suggested the possibility of renewed hostilities against Iran. He stressed the importance of preserving the "achievements" from a brief conflict last month with Iran, and outlined the need for an effective enforcement plan to prevent Tehran from restoring its nuclear and missile projects.

Furthermore, Katz asserted that the Israeli army's presence at control points and in security zones across various sectors, including Syria and Lebanon, is a "security need" vital for the defence of Israeli communities. He added that the Israeli army intends to maintain its presence inside refugee camps in the West Bank and will operate in additional camps if deemed necessary.

With inputs from IANS