Israeli official confirms plans for post-war buffer zone in Gaza

An Israeli official has confirmed plans to carve out a buffer zone on the Palestinian side of Gaza’s border to prevent future attacks after the war, the Times of Israel has reported.

“The defense establishment is talking about some kind of security buffer on the Gaza side of the border so that Hamas cannot gather military capabilities close to the border and surprise Israel again,” an unnamed Israeli official was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The official clarified, however, that the plan does not envision Israeli troops being stationed on the Palestinian side of the border, according to the Times.