Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Wednesday that no reduction will be made to the defense deployment in Gaza border communities “at this time,” after reports of a planned drawdown of emergency squads in communities 4–7 km from the border fence. The decision, Katz said, is meant “in order to preserve the residents’ sense of security.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz officially confirmed Wednesday that no reduction will be made to the defense deployment in Gaza border communities “at this time,” ruling out any further thinning of emergency squads in the 4–7 km band. The statement, issued by his office, reinforces the minister's earlier instruction to the IDF to halt the planned drawdown.
As The Zioneer reported at 15:24 Jerusalem, Katz had already ordered the IDF to cancel the release of reservists serving in the civil-defense squads, reversing a military initiative that had been announced in late July. The initial plan to release squad members in the 4–7 km zone was reported by The Zioneer on July 30, when the IDF said it would retain only the security coordinator in each community, citing the need to adjust force levels to the security situation. By 15:16 Jerusalem, multiple reports had emerged detailing Katz's directive, with some framing it as a response to appeals from Gaza Envelope residents and against the backdrop of reported tensions between the minister and the Chief of Staff.
The decision aligns with Katz's broader security-first approach, as The Zioneer has reported in recent weeks. On June 25 and June 15, Katz stated that the IDF would remain in security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza indefinitely, prioritizing the protection of border communities. Tonight's confirmation underscores that policy, with the minister explicitly citing the need to “preserve the residents’ sense of security.”
The statement leaves open the possibility of future adjustments: the phrase “at this time” suggests the decision is not permanent. The IDF had argued that the reservists were costly and unnecessary given the presence of two divisions operating in Gaza, and that squad members could remain armed outside reserve duty. How that tension will be resolved remains to be seen.
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