Netanyahu And Israel Katz Approve “Green Rafah” Residential Zone In Eastern Rafah

Israel has quietly given the green light for infrastructure work to begin in a designated area of southern Gaza, according to Israeli media, as it advances a post-war vision that experts warn is designed to reshape reality on the ground and permanently fragment the enclave. Dubbed “Green Rafah”, the project backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz is in eastern Rafah near the unilaterally imposed “Yellow Line”, the effective Israeli buffer zone squeezing Palestinians into smaller areas. Army Radio, which reported the approval on Sunday, said the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office described the initiative as an Emirati-backed pilot project aimed at establishing temporary housing “free” of the influence of the Palestinian group Hamas. While the Israeli military will reportedly supervise the installation of water, sewage and electrical infrastructure, Palestinian labourers will be subjected to intense security screenings by the Shin Bet intelligence agency. Furthermore, strict limitations have been imposed on the project, with Israeli authorities reportedly banning the entry of “caravans” or mobile homes into the area until at least November. Also on Sunday, Netanyahu said he rejects the 15-point plan for Gaza announced last month by the United States-led Board of Peace. The plan calls for the disarmament of Hamas in stages and the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Strip, but Netanyahu said an Israeli pull-out won’t happen until Hamas is fully disarmed. As political negotiations over the future of Gaza stall, Palestinian political researcher Ahmed al-Atawneh warned that projects such as “Green Rafah” are designed to create isolated cantons under total Israeli administrative and security control. With this framework, he argued, Israel leaves Palestinians with only three choices: “Either they fully submit to Israeli policies, face death or imprisonment if they resist, or emigrate.” Far from providing genuine humanitarian relief, al-Atawneh said Israel’s strategy relies on stripping the Palestinian struggle of its political dimension. “Treating Palestinians merely as residents rather than citizens with a national cause means, in practice, undermining and liquidating the Palestinian cause,” he said, adding that this approach aligns with the broad consensus in the Israeli parliament rejecting any Palestinian political entity. Al-Atawneh further criticised Arab involvement in such frameworks outside of a unified Palestinian consensus. “If any country is involved in this project based on the Israeli vision and away from the Palestinians, it raises many questions and essentially serves Israeli policy, rather than genuinely assisting or relieving Palestinians,” he added. The Israeli ban on mobile homes and delay of meaningful reconstruction of civilian infrastructure carry deep strategic implications, according to experts. Mohammad Hamed al-Aila, a Palestinian researcher, pointed out that the humanitarian protocol attached to a ceasefire agreement signed last year in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh explicitly mandates the entry of temporary housing (caravans) and repair of civilian infrastructure. “Israel has not adhered to these obligations, despite 10 months passing since” the signing of a ceasefire deal, said al-Aila, noting that Israel continues to stall while Hamas demands the full implementation of the first phase. “Preventing the entry of caravans and postponing any serious reconstruction track cannot be separated from the broader Israeli goal of perpetuating the humanitarian catastrophe,” said al-Aila. “Israel views the humanitarian situation in Gaza as a tool of political pressure aimed at gradually pushing the population towards migration.” Al-Atawneh agreed, suggesting that Netanyahu is using these delays to buy time ahead of Israel’s elections in October in an effort to preserve his far-right-wing coalition, all while pursuing long-term goals of demographic engineering and displacement. The international force dilemma In tandem with these administrative zones, preparations are moving forward to deploy a limited International Stabilization Force (ISF). Reports indicate that countries such as Morocco and Uganda may send small contingents of around 200 troops each, falling drastically short of initial plans for a much larger multinational force. Al-Aila argued that these token numbers reflect Israel’s traditional tactic of superficially accepting US proposals while hollowing out their actual implementation. The mandate of this force remains a major point of contention. “Palestinians want a protection and separation force that shields them from the occupation and guarantees the implementation of agreements,” al-Aila said. “Conversely, Israel wants to turn this force into a security arm tasked with disarming and pursuing the resistance.” According to al-Aila, the Palestinian stance on the ISF ultimately will depend entirely on its actual function: If it operates under the Israeli security ceiling to target Palestinians, it will be viewed merely as an “international facade for the continuation of the occupation”, he said. The experts said the only counter-strategy to what they described as engineered fragmentation is robust Palestinian unity. Al-Atawneh stressed that facing these policies requires a unified Palestinian administration, a national consensus government, and the rebuilding of political institutions based on true partnership. However, he expressed deep frustration with the current Palestinian political leadership. “Unfortunately, there appears to be no decision, will, or capability from the official political leadership – namely the Palestinian Authority and the PLO,” said al-Atawneh, referring to the Palestine Liberation Organisation. “They continue to turn their backs on all popular and non-popular Palestinian attempts to present visions for unifying the Palestinian front.”

The Israeli army radio said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz agreed to start rebuilding work in eastern Rafah, in the Gaza Strip. It pointed out that the decision by Netanyahu and Katz to rebuild was made about two weeks ago away from the public eye and without an official announcement, coinciding with the decision to enter the multinational force into Gaza. According to the army radio, the reconstruction works include infrastructure in an area called "Rafah Green" with the aim of establishing a residential project for Palestinians there outside the control of Hamas and under the control of the multinational force. A reporter for the Israeli Army Radio quoted security sources as saying that the contractors and workers who will operate in the area are Palestinians from Gaza who are currently undergoing security screening by Shin Bet to approve their entry into the Yellow Line areas. The sources said that it is expected that the contractors and workers will enter the area to begin work within a few weeks or a little more to carry out excavation, electrical, water, and sewage works. And the "Yellow Line" is the deployment line behind which Israeli forces are stationed inside the Gaza Strip under ceasefire arrangements. According to the occupation radio, the political level is not currently approving the entry of caravans and mobile facilities into the designated area at least until November 2026. In response to what the army radio published, Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev stated that Tel Aviv wants to rebuild Gaza and that the operation can begin in any demilitarized area, as she put it. She added, "We will not withdraw from Gaza and Lebanon until Hamas and Hezbollah are disarmed." The Israeli army occupies about 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, after a war of annihilation that claimed the lives of 73,384 Palestinians and wounded more than 174,000, according to Palestinian data. Previously, the Peace Council and American President Donald Trump had announced on July 31 that Hamas had agreed to a roadmap plan to implement the next phase of the ceasefire agreement, including an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and limiting and storing Hamas weapons. Later, Hamas said on the same day that the ceasefire killed Palestinians and ending its attacks is the basic entry to proceed with the implementation of the second phase of the agreement and to establish a framework and a timetable for understandings. Israel continues its daily violations of the ceasefire that has been in effect since October 10, 2025. Those violations have resulted in the martyrdom of 1,254 Palestinians and the injury of 4,121 others. The agreement is based on Trump’s 20-point plan to stop the Israeli war on Gaza, which calls for the release of Israeli prisoners, the release of Palestinian prisoners, disarming Hamas, an Israeli phased withdrawal, the formation of a technocratic administration, and the deployment of an international stabilization force.

Netanyahu ‘quietly’ approves reconstruction in Gaza’s Rafah: Israeli media Army Radio says Netanyahu allows reconstruction in an area under army control in eastern Rafah without public announcement Zein Khalil and Serdar Dincel 09 August 2026•Update: 09 August 2026 ISTANBUL Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz “quietly” approved the reconstruction of an area under army control in eastern Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media on Sunday. Without a public announcement, Netanyahu and Katz approved “infrastructure works in ‘Green Rafah,’ in eastern Rafah, to establish a residential project for Palestinians outside Hamas control,” Army Radio said. “Green Rafah” is an area controlled by the Israeli army within the so-called Yellow Line separating areas occupied by Israel from zones where Palestinians are allowed to move. The area has been “completely leveled and cleared and is currently empty" and will be “under the control of a multinational force,” the radio said. "The infrastructure works that have now been given the green light will allow contractors and workers to enter the area and carry out excavation work and connect electricity, water and sewage systems," the report said. “The contractors and workers who will operate in the area are Palestinians from Gaza,” the outlet said, citing Israeli security sources. "They are currently undergoing security screening by the Shin Bet security agency to obtain approval to enter areas along the Yellow Line. They are expected to begin work within weeks, or shortly thereafter,” the sources stated. Netanyahu’s office, however, told the radio that the report “distorts the facts and republishes outdated information.” The project is a UAE pilot initiative that has been underway for several months, the office claimed. "The electricity, sewage and water works will not be carried out by contractors from Gaza but will be supervised by the Israeli army," it added. The Israeli army has launched a genocidal war in Gaza since October 2023, killing more than 73,000 Palestinians and injuring over 174,000, most of them women and children, while devastating about 90% of the enclave's infrastructure. Netanyahu ‘quietly’ approves reconstruction in Gaza’s Rafah: Israeli media

The Israeli Army Radio reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz agreed to begin reconstruction work in eastern Rafah. It noted that the decision was made about two weeks ago, away from the public eye and without an official announcement, coinciding with the decision to allow the multinational force into the Gaza Strip. It explained that the reconstruction works include infrastructure projects in an area dubbed the “Green Rafah,” aimed at establishing a housing project for Palestinians there outside Hamas control and under the control of the multinational force. The city planned to be built east of Rafah lies within the “yellow line,” according to the Israeli Army Radio. 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Israeli media revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant secretly approved the start of reconstruction work in the area east of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. The Israel Army Radio reported that Netanyahu and Galant gave, unofficially, the green light to begin reconstruction in southern Gaza, despite repeated assurances that reconstruction for the heavily-damaged Strip would not start before Hamas is fully disarmed. According to the report, the reconstruction work includes building infrastructure in preparation for housing in a area east of Rafah, a zone currently under Israeli army control and located near the “Green Line,” which marks the ceasefire line with Hamas. The Green Line is the deployment line behind which Israeli forces are positioned inside Gaza under ceasefire arrangements, with the Israeli army controlling about 70% of the Strip’s destroyed area. Army Radio noted that Netanyahu and Galant agreed to start the work about two weeks ago without announcing the decision at the time, coinciding with the readiness of the “International Stability Force,” which is set to take control of parts of the Strip, to deploy in the area. The report states that contractors and workers from Gaza will participate in the construction, after undergoing stringent security checks. By contrast, the Prime Minister’s Office offered a different narrative, saying that rehabilitation work actually began months ago, as part of a UAE-backed project to establish temporary, Hamas-free housing. The Office added, in a statement carried by Army Radio, that the targeted area “has been cleared of terrorism infrastructure and tunnels,” as it put it, noting that the electricity, sewage, and water infrastructure works would not be carried out by Gaza residents but under direct Israeli army supervision. Has this represented a shift from a previous stance? In January, Netanyahu stressed that reconstruction of Gaza would not be allowed before Hamas relinquishes its weapons. His stance came at a time when a US-proposed agreement, which Israel rejected, seemed to pave the way for Hamas disarmament. He said at the time: “I hear the statements claiming we will allow Gaza’s reconstruction before disarmament… that will not happen.” Following the report, Gaza Belt Forum and the Tsav 9 movement condemned the claims of Netanyahu and Galant’s approval to establish new facilities, saying that “there is no demilitarized area controlled by our fighters.” The two protest groups added: “Once the Israeli army withdraws from there, Hamas will return to an area that has been rehabilitated and equipped with weapons to be used against us.” They continued: “This is not a plan for reconstruction, but a plan to revive terrorism. Dismantling Hamas operatives and fully disarming them is a core obligation that must be fulfilled before talking about reconstruction.” Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev said that reconstruction work could begin in any area of the Gaza Strip not under Hamas control, adding: “We want Gaza to recover.” Regev also stated: “We will not withdraw from Gaza and Lebanon until Hamas and Hezbollah are disarmed.” War and destruction tally in Gaza: Israel’s war on Gaza erupted in October 2023, following an attack by Hamas on southern Israel. The war lasted two years before Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire mediated by the United States. Since October 7, 2023, the conflict has killed more than 73,382 Palestinians and injured 174,236 others, with extensive damage to the Strip’s infrastructure. Since the ceasefire went into effect on October 10, 2025, Israeli raids have killed and injured more than 5,360 Palestinians.

- i24NEWS - Israel-Hamas war - Netanyahu, Katz quietly approve reconstruction work in "Green Rafah" - report Netanyahu, Katz quietly approve reconstruction work in "Green Rafah" - report The political leadership is reportedly not currently authorizing the placement of mobile homes or temporary structures in the area, at least until November 2026, after the elections Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have approved the launch of infrastructure work in "Green Rafah," an area of eastern Rafah designated for a residential project for Palestinians outside Hamas's control, according to IDF Radio's Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh. The decision was made about two weeks ago, at the same time as the decision to deploy a multinational force to Gaza, but it has not yet been disclosed. "Green Rafah" is located within the Yellow Line in an area currently controlled by the IDF, which has been fully cleared and sanitized and now stands empty. The infrastructure projects now approved will allow contractors and workers to enter the site to carry out earthwork, electrical, water, and sewer projects. According to security sources, the contractors and workers will be Palestinians from Gaza who are currently undergoing security vetting by the Shin Bet for approval to enter the Yellow Line area. They are expected to be deployed in the field within a few weeks, or perhaps a bit longer. Suggested articles - Israel already implementing Gaza roadmap, ceasefire despite officials' claims, source tells i24NEWS | Guy Azriel - A Moroccan military base in Gaza: the first project of the Board of Peace as part of post-war arrangements | i24NEWS - Qatar, Egypt and Turkey condemn Israeli strikes in Gaza, warn ceasefire at risk | i24NEWS The political leadership is not currently authorizing the placement of mobile homes or temporary structures in the area, at least until November 2026, after the elections. Work on the restoration is therefore beginning to move forward, but only to a certain extent, and is proceeding without Hamas having begun to disarm. The Green Rafah reconstruction move comes as the Board of Peace advances other post-war arrangements in Gaza. The Guardian reported that the board has issued its first construction contract for a planned military site inside the Strip, intended to host a rotating contingent of about 150 Moroccan soldiers as part of new security arrangements. The contract, still pending final approval, was awarded to Arkel International, a company that has previously carried out projects for the US government in Iraq.

What is ‘Green Rafah’? Netanyahu clears way for Gaza reconstruction' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have quietly approved infrastructure work for a reconstruction project in eastern Rafah, according to Israeli media. Army Radio reported Sunday that the officials approved infrastructure works in an area known as “Green Rafah,” which is under Israeli military control, for a residential project intended for Palestinians outside Hamas control, Anadolu Agency reported. The area lies within the so-called Yellow Line, which separates territory controlled by Israeli forces from areas where Palestinians are allowed to move. According to the report, the site has been leveled and cleared and is currently empty. It would eventually come under the control of a multinational force. The approved infrastructure work would allow contractors and workers to enter the area and carry out excavation and connect electricity, water and sewage systems, Army Radio reported. The outlet said Palestinians from Gaza were expected to carry out the work. Israeli security sources said those workers were undergoing screening by the Shin Bet security agency before receiving authorization to enter areas along the Yellow Line. The workers could begin the project within weeks, according to the report. Netanyahu’s office disputed the characterization of the decision, telling Army Radio that the report “distorts the facts and republishes outdated information.” The prime minister’s office said the project was a United Arab Emirates pilot initiative that had been under development for several months. It also said the electricity, sewage and water work would not be carried out by contractors from Gaza but would instead be supervised by the Israeli military. The conflicting accounts leave uncertainty over the timing and scope of the proposed reconstruction project in eastern Rafah. News.Az By Aysel Mammadzada

Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio. 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have approved the start of reconstruction work in Rafah, southern Gaza, according to ‘Israeli’ Army Radio. The report said the approval was made without a public announcement, nearly three years into the genocidal war on Gaza and as international pressure mounts for the deployment of a multinational stabilization force in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu’s office rejected the report, saying it “distorts the facts and recycles old information.” The office said the work refers to a UAE-backed pilot project launched several months ago inside the so-called “Yellow Line.” The project aims to establish a tent complex in an area outside Hamas control, it said. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the ‘Israeli’ military had cleared the area of what it described as “militant infrastructure,” including tunnels. The office said infrastructure work involving electricity, sewage and water would be supervised by the ‘Israeli’ military, rather than carried out by contractors operating inside Gaza. The report comes as international efforts continue over plans for Gaza’s reconstruction and post-war arrangements, including a proposed multinational stabilization force. The Jerusalem Post reported last month that the ‘Israeli’ security cabinet had approved a plan by US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace to facilitate the deployment of an International Stabilization Force in Gaza and establish a pilot humanitarian zone for Palestinians. The developments come amid growing international pressure over the future of the Gaza Strip, including reconstruction, humanitarian assistance and security arrangements following the devastating ‘Israeli’ military campaign.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz quietly approved new development and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip two weeks ago, Army Radio reported on Sunday morning. According to Army Radio, the location marked for new construction is east of Rafah, within the Yellow Line, with the plan being to build new living spaces for Palestinians outside of Hamas' control. Security sources said that the workers involved in the construction would be Gazan Palestinians, who are currently having their background checked by the Shin Bet (Israeli Security Agency). PMO denies Army Radio report of Gaza labor in reconstruction The Prime Minister's Office responded to Army Radio's report, saying that it "distorts the facts and recycles old information." According to the PMO, the project is a pre-existing UAE pilot that has been ongoing for several months. The PMO also denied that critical infrastructure such as electricity, water, and sewage would be worked on by Gazan workers. Transportation Minister Miri Regev also responded to Army Radio, saying that "We want Gaza to recover - the process can begin in any demilitarized zone." The Israel Envelope Forum and Tzav 9 condemned the report that Netanyahu and Katz had approved new construction, stating that "There is no demilitarized zone that is not held by our fighters. "As soon as the IDF withdraws from there, Hamas will return to a rehabilitated zone with weapons to be turned against us," the protest groups stated. "This is not a reconstruction plan - it is a resuscitation plan for terrorism. Dismantling Hamas terrorists and complete demilitarization are a critical obligation before talks about reconstruction begin."

Israelhas reportedly approved infrastructure work for a new residential zone in easternRafah, raising questions over whether reconstruction could entrench the military division ofGazaand create a new model of Israeli control over the enclave. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz quietly authorised work in what Israeli media has called "Green Rafah", on the Israeli-controlled side of the Yellow Line, according toIsraeli Army Radio. The project is intended to house Palestinians outside Hamas control in an area of eastern Rafah that has been completely levelled and is currently empty. But Daniel Levy, president of the US/Middle East Project and a former Israeli peace negotiator, toldThe New Arabthat Green Rafah should not necessarily be seen as evidence of a single, settled Israeli blueprint for Gaza. He argued that the ambiguity surrounding such projects allows Israel to keep several possible futures open, including tightly controlled Palestinian enclaves, prolonged occupation and, potentially, eventual Israeli resettlement. “Both options are baked into whatever piecemeal measures are agreed,” Levy said. According toIsraeli Army Radio, infrastructure work will include excavation and connections to electricity, water and sewage systems, while Palestinian workers are undergoing Shin Bet security screening before being allowed into the area. The zone would eventually come under the control of a multinational force, the report said. Gaza's 'orange line': How Israel is expanding permanent control Netanyahu’s office disputed parts of the account, saying Green Rafah was a UAE-backed pilot initiative already underway for several months and that infrastructure work would be supervised by the Israeli military. The conflicting accounts add to uncertainty surrounding who will finance, administer and secure proposed reconstruction projects in Gaza. Levy said that opacity was itself significant. “The twilight grey zone nature of this is by design, it’s not a bug,” he said, describing the emerging arrangements as both "a business model and a smoke and mirrors model". He cautioned against assuming every proposed reconstruction project would ultimately materialise, arguing that limited initiatives can also allow Israel to create the impression that it is not exclusively obstructing Gaza’s reconstruction. Green Rafah nevertheless raises wider questions over the future of the Yellow Line if housing and civilian infrastructure are established specifically within Israeli-controlled territory. One possibility is the emergence of heavily controlled Palestinian enclaves, separated from Hamas and administered partly through international or Palestinian actors while Israel retains overriding security control. Another, advocated openly by parts of Israel’s far right, would involve permanent Israeli control, ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and the eventual re-establishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza. Levy said Israel had not reached a consensus on the latter, but argued that the current piecemeal approach need not close off either outcome. The division within Israel, he argued, is less between occupation and Palestinian sovereignty than between competing visions for maintaining Israeli control. "There is contestation between those for whom, yes, the goal is ethnic cleansing and resettlement, and those for whom ongoing occupation should be as cost-managed as possible for Israel." "A consensus of cruelty towards Palestinians exists. A consensus of resettling Gaza does not," he added. Constructing homes, utilities and security structures east of the Yellow Line could therefore give what is presented as a military division an increasingly permanent civilian and political character, while potentially tying access to reconstruction to living within Israeli-approved areas. Yet the eventual outcome remains uncertain. Levy argued that while competing plans for what comes next remain contested, one element of Israel’s transformation of Gaza is already much further advanced. "If you’re creating this green zone type thing, what do you have to do before you build it? You have to finish destroying everything," he said. "There can be a consensus of destruction.What is built in the wake of that destruction is still up for grabs. But for now, the only bit that’s implemented is the destruction."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have quietly given the go-ahead for rehabilitation work to begin in southern Gaza, despite vowing that reconstruction of the badly damaged Strip would only take place once the Hamas terror group was disarmed, Army Radio reported Sunday. The reconstruction work, which involves building infrastructure for the establishment of residential housing, is taking place in an area of eastern Rafah under Israel Defense Forces control, but near the Yellow Line that forms the frontier with Hamas. According to the report, Netanyahu and Katz gave the green light two weeks ago, albeit without announcing the move, as theInternational Stabilization Forceset to take control of parts of Gaza readied to deploy. The report said that Gaza contractors and laborers will carry out the work after undergoing security checks. In response, the Prime Minister’s Office said the work began months ago, as part of an Emirati-backed project for temporary housing “free of Hamas rule.” “As of now, the area has been cleared of terror infrastructure and tunnels,” Netanyahu’s office told Army Radio. The PMO also said electric, sewer and water infrastructure work will not be performed by Gazans, and will be under IDF supervision. In January, Netanyahu insisted that reconstruction in Gaza would be allowed only if Hamas first gave up its weapons, something it has refused to do thus far, though a recent US-proffered agreement,rejected by Israel, appeared to pave the way toward disarming the group. “I am already hearing the statements that we will allow Gaza’s reconstruction before demilitarization,” he said at the time. “That will not happen.” Responding to the report, Transportation Minister Miri Regev told the station that rebuilding work can begin in any area of Gaza not under Hamas control. “We want Gaza to recover,” she said. MK Avigdor Liberman, who leads the hawkish opposition Yisrael Beytenu party, claimed in a post to X that “the reconstruction of Gaza is Netanyahu’s payment for his recent meeting with [US] President Trump, who really didn’t want to meet with him.” “Instead of eliminating Hamas, which is still armed, getting stronger and recruiting tens of thousands of terrorists, the October 7 Massacre Government is rebuilding the Strip and hiding it from the citizens of Israel,” Liberman continued. “This is the same ‘conception’ that brought us October 7,” he said, asserting that Israel’s security strategy had been premised on a mistake. “We have to be decisive.” As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take thequality, fact-based journalismproduced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos. This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. Butmisinformation is rampanton social media. Our team at ToI producesaccurate, responsibleshort-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world. If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group,The Times of Israel Community.Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting. — Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist We’re really pleased that you’ve readXTimes of Israel articlesin the past month. That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. So now we have a request.Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joiningThe Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of IsraelAD-FREE, as well as accessingexclusive contentavailable only to Times of Israel Community members. Thank you,David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel

Occupied Jerusalem: The Israeli army radio, on Sunday, reported that the United States will take over, instead of the Israeli Defense Ministry, the funding and management of concrete plants established on the Gaza border to produce materials for sealing tunnels. The radio said: “Concrete plants established at the Gaza border for the purpose of sealing tunnels are transitioning to full U.S. control and funding, instead of the Israeli Defense Ministry.” It described this as “another step toward Israel losing control over what happens in Gaza.” The radio explained that in recent months, concrete plants have been set up at the Gaza border, in the Nahal Oz and Kerem Shalom (Karem Abu Salem) areas, and have been operated by contracting firms on behalf of the Israeli Defense Ministry. It added that the concrete plants are intended to produce materials to seal tunnels that the Israeli army detects inside Gaza, in the “Yellow Line” areas. The message noted: “But after the factories were established and operated with Israeli funding and management, it was announced that responsibility for the plants would be transferred to the American headquarters in the city of Beersheba (in southern Israel), which will fund and manage them.” The American headquarters is the Civil-Military Coordination Center, established by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and opened on October 21, 2025 to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire, support Gaza stability, and advance toward a lasting peace. The radio added: “The Israeli Defense Ministry informed contracting companies that their operator will, starting in the upcoming period, be the United States.” It saw this as “another step in which the United States gradually takes on more responsibility for what is happening in the Gaza Strip.” It further noted that this step raises the question: “If the plants have so far been dedicated to producing concrete used to seal tunnels, does transferring ownership indicate they will soon be used for other purposes, such as reconstruction in Gaza?” As of 09:30 GMT, there had been no official comment from Tel Aviv or Washington on what the Israeli army radio reported. Earlier on Sunday, the radio claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gantz gave the green light, away from the media, two weeks earlier, to begin reconstruction work in eastern Rafah, southern Gaza. It stated that they approved “infrastructure work in Rafah al-Khadra (Green Rafah), in eastern Rafah, to establish a housing project for Palestinians outside Hamas control.” It added that this area would be “under the control of multinational forces,” referring to the international stabilization force planned for deployment in the Palestinian territory. “Rafah al-Khadra” lies inside the so-called “Yellow Line,” in an area currently controlled by the Israeli army, which has been “cleared and fully leveled, and is currently empty,” according to the radio. In response to a request for comment, Netanyahu’s office said the “report distorts facts and re-publishes old information.” It added: “This concerns a known experimental project belonging to the United Arab Emirates, located deep inside the Gaza Strip adjacent to the Yellow Line, and initiated months ago to establish a tent city complex free of Hamas control.” Despite the ceasefire agreed on October 10, 2025, Israel continues its destruction through daily bombardment that has killed 1,257 Palestinians and injured 4,131 others, most of them women and children, along with widespread destruction. Israel also prevents the entry of agreed quantities of food, medicines, medical supplies, shelter materials, and ready-made homes into Gaza, where about 2.4 million Palestinians live, including 1.5 million who are displaced, in dire conditions. The International Court of Justice, the UN’s principal judicial organ, is examining a case brought by South Africa, joined by numerous other countries, accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 for war crimes in Gaza. In 1948, Israel was established on lands occupied by armed Zionist militias that committed massacres and expelled no fewer than 750,000 Palestinians, after which Tel Aviv occupied the rest of the Palestinian lands; it refuses to withdraw and to establish the Palestinian state provided for in UN resolutions. (Anadolu)

Israel’s Army Radio has reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have approved the start of a limited reconstruction project in eastern Rafah in the Gaza Strip. This initiative is said to be part of a plan to establish a residential complex for Palestinians in areas outside Hamas’ control. According to the report, the decision was made about two weeks ago alongside the approval for a multinational force to enter Gaza, though it had not been officially announced until now. The project is expected to be implemented in the area known as the “Green Rafah” in the eastern part of the city. Doron Kadosh, a military correspondent for Israel’s Army Radio, wrote that the area lies behind the “yellow line” and is currently under Israeli military control. He claimed that the area has previously been evacuated, cleared, and leveled, and that infrastructure work including land leveling and installation of electricity, water, and sewage networks will be carried out there. Kadosh added that the construction work will be performed by Palestinian contractors and workers residing in Gaza, but they will be subject to security screenings by Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet, for permits to enter zones behind the yellow line. Meanwhile, according to Kadosh, Israeli political officials have so far not approved the transfer of trailers or prefabricated housing units to the area, and it is likely that this part of the plan will not be implemented at least until the parliamentary elections scheduled for November 2026. The claim of starting limited reconstruction in parts of Gaza comes as some political observers view this move as an attempt to demonstrate adherence to the ceasefire agreement and to increase international pressure on Hamas to disarm and to extract greater concessions from the group. Rafah, located in southern Gaza, has been a key hotspot in recent months during ongoing conflicts.

Tel Aviv – The Israeli Army Radio reported on Sunday morning that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Izhar? Yisrael Katz agreed, unofficially, to implement new development and reconstruction projects in the Gaza Strip, about two weeks ago. According to the report, the project site is located in an area east of Rafah, inside what is known as the “Yellow Line,” with the plan including the establishment of new residential spaces for Palestinians in areas that Israel says lie outside Hamas control. Army Radio quoted security sources as saying that Palestinians from the Gaza Strip would participate in the construction work, noting that potential workers are currently undergoing background security checks conducted by the Shin Bet, Israel’s General Security Service. The information comes amid ongoing Israeli debate over the future of the Gaza Strip, the mechanisms for governing areas not under Hamas control, as well as the conditions for starting reconstruction and the entities that could participate in infrastructure projects. Netanyahu Office: The report distorts the facts. In contrast, the Prime Minister’s Office denied the details reported by Army Radio, saying the report “distorts the facts and reuses old information.” The office explained that the project discussed by Army Radio is an experimental project that has been underway for several months, not a new project approved two weeks ago as stated in the report. It also denied that Palestinian workers from the Gaza Strip are responsible for carrying out critical infrastructure works, especially electricity, water, and sewage networks. The denial comes at a time when questions are multiplying about the nature of the projects proposed in Gaza, whether they represent the beginning of a broader reconstruction path, or whether they fall within limited and experimental projects tied to temporary security and on-the-ground arrangements. Ri’guf: Reconstruction could begin in demilitarized areas. Following the report, Israeli Transport Minister Meri Regev said Israel wants Gaza to undergo a recovery process, deeming that reconstruction can begin in areas from which weapons have been removed. Regev added that “Gaza must recover,” and that the process could begin in any demilitarized area, in reference to the Israeli stance linking any progress in reconstruction to security arrangements and disarmament of Palestinian factions. This reflects ongoing disagreement within Israel about the next steps in the Strip, between those pushing to begin humanitarian and reconstruction projects in specific areas and those insisting that the Hamas disarmament issue must be resolved first. Israeli opposition to the project. News of Netanyahu and Katz’s possible approval of building projects drew criticism from hardline Israeli groups, including the Israel Humanity Front? and the Safa 9 organization, which rejected the idea of establishing new residential areas in the Gaza Strip before dismantling what it describes as Hamas’s disarmament. The groups said that establishing new residential areas in Gaza before resolving the security issue could allow Hamas, in their estimation, to return to areas from which the Israeli army withdraws. They argued that rehabilitating areas in the Strip before Hamas is disbanded and disarmed is “not a plan for reconstruction,” but a step that could enable the movement’s capabilities to be rebuilt, in their view. The controversy over reconstruction projects comes as the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure, and a large portion of the population needing temporary housing and essential services. While international and regional actors propose projects to rehabilitate the Strip and provide housing for Palestinians, the nature of security control over the targeted areas and the entities to manage the projects remain among the main unresolved issues. Beginning limited reconstruction projects in the east of Rafah could provide a practical test of the next path for Gaza, especially given the ongoing dispute over the relationship between reconstruction and disarmament, the future of the Israeli military presence, and the role of Palestinian, regional, and international actors in managing the Strip. Source: Al-Monitor News, an independent Palestinian media network focused on Palestinian, regional, and international affairs, with special emphasis on the Palestinian issue. All rights reserved to Al-Monitor News © 2026

Israeli media revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (often referred to as Netanyahu and Katz in the Arabic report, but the text mentions Yisrael Katz) secretly approved the start of reconstruction work in the eastern Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip, as part of a plan to establish a residential complex for Palestinians in a area not under Hamas control, according to the Israeli Army Radio. The Army Radio said the decision was made out of the public eye and without an official announcement, noting that the work would focus on an area known as "Rafah Green" in preparation for a housing project for Palestinians there, under the supervision of a multinational force. According to the Israeli Army Radio military correspondent Doron Kadish, the decision was taken by Netanyahu and Katz about two weeks ago, coinciding with the decision to introduce the multinational force into the Gaza Strip, though it has not been disclosed to the public until now. Kadish explained that "Rafah Green" lies behind the so-called "Yellow Line," an area currently controlled by the Israeli army after being cleared and leveled, though it remains devoid of inhabitants. The first phase of the works, the report says, involves land leveling and preparation, as well as the construction of electricity, water, and sewage networks, paving the way later for the establishment of residential facilities in the area. Palestinian workers after Israeli security screening The military correspondent quoted Israeli security sources as saying that the implementation of the infrastructure works will involve contractors and Palestinian workers from the Gaza Strip, who are currently undergoing security checks conducted by the Israeli Security Agency (the Shin Bet), in preparation for allowing them to enter areas behind the “Yellow Line.” The entry of workers into the area is expected within a few weeks, or after a slightly longer period, according to Israeli security procedures. Conversely, the political level in Israel has not yet approved the entry of caravans or mobile housing units into the area, at least until November 2026, i.e., after the elections, Kadish reported. Thus, the current phase will be limited to infrastructure and qualification works without moving to actual housing, at a time when Hamas has not begun, according to the Israeli report, its disarmament process. If implemented, the plan would reveal an Israeli inclination to begin preparing infrastructure in parts of the Gaza Strip before moving to the housing construction phase, while keeping the area under Israeli security control and under the proposed supervision of the multinational force.

Netanyahu and Katz secretly agreed to establish a residential complex for Palestinians outside Hamas control in eastern Rafah. The Israeli Army Radio revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz approved a plan to commence reconstruction inside the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip. According to the radio, the plan aims to build a residential complex for Palestinians that is not under Hamas control but under the authority of the multinational force. Published on: The Army Radio reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz agreed to a plan to begin reconstruction in eastern Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. The decision, which the radio said was "taken out of the public eye," aims to create a residential complex that is not under Hamas control. In the details published by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, the rehabilitation works in the area within the Yellow Line, which is currently under the Israeli Army, consist of infrastructure works in "Rafah al-Khadra" (Green Rafah), preparing for a housing project under the control of the multinational force. According to the radio, this decision was made about two weeks ago, in parallel with the decision to introduce the multinational force into Gaza, "but it has not been disclosed to the public yet and has not been officially published." The approved infrastructure works would allow contractors and workers to enter the area and carry out land clearing and leveling, electricity, water, and sewage works. The radio quoted security sources as saying that the contractors and workers who will operate in the area are Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, currently undergoing security checks by the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) for clearance to enter areas within the Yellow Line’s scope. It added that Palestinian workers are expected to enter the area within a few weeks, or shortly thereafter. Delayed plan until after Knesset elections. But the radio noted that the political level currently does not approve bringing in caravans and mobile facilities to this area, at least until November 2026, i.e., after the Israeli Knesset elections. In another report, Dannon Code, a journalist for the Israeli Army Radio, spoke of "the waning Israeli control over what is happening in Gaza." He reported a transfer of control and funding for concrete plants built along the border of the enclave to close tunnels, entirely from the Israeli Defense Ministry to the Americans. He wondered whether the transfer of ownership could indicate that they would soon be used for other purposes, such as rebuilding Gaza. Analysts linked the Israeli decision to an Emirati plan previously reported by Reuters in February to create a Palestinian complex in southern Gaza under Israeli control. The report indicated a map showing plans for the site where the "Emirates temporary housing complex" would be built near Rafah.

Homeland Today: The Israel Defense Forces radio said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz agreed to begin reconstruction in eastern Rafah in the Gaza Strip. It noted that Netanyahu and Katz’s decision to reconstruct was made about two weeks ago away from the public eye and without an official announcement, coinciding with a decision to introduce a multinational force into Gaza. According to the IDF radio, the reconstruction works include infrastructure in an area named “Rafah Green” with the aim of establishing a housing project for Palestinians there outside the control of Hamas and under the control of the multinational force. A correspondent for the Army Radio quoted security sources as saying that the contractors and workers who will operate in the area are Palestinians from Gaza who are currently undergoing security clearance by Shin Bet to approve their entry into the Yellow Line areas. The sources noted that it is expected that the contractors and workers will enter the area to start work within a few weeks or a little more to carry out excavation, electrical, water, and sewage works. And the “Yellow Line” is the deployment line behind which the Israeli forces are stationed in the Gaza Strip under the terms of the ceasefire arrangements. According to the occupation radio, the political level currently does not approve the entry of caravans and mobile facilities into the area designated at least until November 2026. In response to what the IDF radio published, Israeli Transport Minister Meri Regev stated that Tel Aviv wants to reconstruct Gaza and that the operation could begin in any demilitarized area, as she put it. She added, “We will not withdraw from Gaza and Lebanon until Hamas and Hezbollah are disarmed.” The Israeli army occupies about 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, following a war of extermination that resulted in the martyrdom of 73,384 Palestinians and the injury of more than 174,000, according to Palestinian data. The Security Council and U.S. President Donald Trump announced on July 31 that Hamas agreed to a roadmap plan to implement the next phase of the ceasefire agreement, including an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the containment and storage of the movement’s weapons. Later, on the same day, Hamas said that Israel’s ceasefire killings and ending its assaults are the main entry points to proceed with implementing the second phase of the agreement and establishing a framework and timeline for understandings. Israel continues its daily breaches of the ceasefire agreement in effect since October 10, 2025. Those breaches have so far resulted in the martyrdom of 1,254 Palestinians and injuries to 4,121 others. The agreement is based on Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Israeli war on Gaza, which calls for the release of Israeli prisoners, the release of Palestinian prisoners, the disarmament of Hamas, phased Israeli withdrawal, the formation of a technocratic administration, and the deployment of an international stabilization force.

SadaNews - The Israeli occupation army radio reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have approved the commencement of reconstruction works in East Rafah in the Gaza Strip. It was noted that the decision by Netanyahu and Katz to proceed with the reconstruction was made about two weeks ago, away from public scrutiny and without an official announcement, coinciding with the decision to introduce multinational forces into Gaza. According to the occupation's radio, the reconstruction works include infrastructure projects in an area referred to as "Green Rafah" with the aim of establishing a housing project for Palestinians there, outside the control of Hamas and under the command of the multinational forces. An Israeli army radio correspondent quoted security sources as saying that the contractors and workers who will operate in the area are Palestinians from Gaza who are currently undergoing security clearance by the Shabak to be approved for entry into the yellow line areas. Sources indicated that contractors and workers are expected to enter the area to begin work within a few weeks or slightly longer to carry out excavation, electrical, water, and sewage works. The "yellow line" is the line of deployment behind which Israeli forces are stationed inside the Gaza Strip under ceasefire arrangements. According to the occupation radio, the political level currently does not approve the entry of caravans and mobile facilities into the designated area at least until November 2026. In response to the army radio's report, Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev stated that Tel Aviv wants to rebuild Gaza and that the process can begin in any demilitarized area, she said. She added, "We will not withdraw from Gaza and Lebanon until the disarmament of Hamas and Hezbollah." The Israeli army occupies about 70 percent of the Gaza area, following a genocidal war that resulted in the martyrdom of 73,384 Palestinians and the injury of more than 174,000, according to Palestinian data. The Peace Council and U.S. President Donald Trump announced on July 31 that "Hamas" agreed to a roadmap plan to implement the next phase of the ceasefire agreement, which includes an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the containment and storage of the movement's weapons. Later, on the same day, "Hamas" stated that ending Israel's killing of Palestinians and stopping its assaults are basic prerequisites to proceed with the implementation of the second phase of the agreement, as well as to outline a framework and timetable for the understandings. Israel continues its daily violations of the ceasefire agreement in effect since October 10, 2025. These violations have resulted in the martyrdom of 1,254 Palestinians and the injury of 4,121 others. The agreement is based on Trump's 20-point plan to halt the Israeli war on Gaza, which provides for the release of Israeli prisoners, the release of Palestinian prisoners, the disarmament of "Hamas", a phased Israeli withdrawal, the formation of a technocratic administration, and the deployment of an international stabilization force. Source: Al Jazeera + Israeli Press