Israel has come under strong international pressure to outline its vision for the future of the Palestinian enclave, but has not done so until now.
An Israeli hostage kidnapped during Hamas' attack on October 7th and held in Gaza has died while in captivity, according to his community of Kibbutz Nir Oz.
ADVERTISEMENTThe community did not offer details on the cause of death of Tamir Adar, who was 38 years old.
Around 80 of the 250 hostages taken by militants on October 7th belonged to the kibbutz, which has a population of around 400 people.
According to the Israeli military, Hamas is still holding 113 hostages. Three of them – Alon Shamriz, Yotam Haim, and Samer Talalka – were shot dead by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers in Gaza on December 15th while they waved a white flag.
During a temporary truce between November 24th and December 1st, Hamas released 105 hostages who were returned to Israel in a prisoner swap.
Israel lays out vision for post-war Gaza
Israel's defence minister on Thursday laid out the next steps after the war with Hamas, offering up early plans for how Gaza would be run if and when Israel takes full control of it.
With a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken looming, Yoav Gallant said Israel would keep security control, while an undefined, Israeli-guided Palestinian body handles day-to-day administration.
The US and other states would oversee reconstruction efforts, and the Israeli defence minister also detailed that the war would be scaled down.
There would be a "new combat approach" in northern Gaza, while the fight against Hamas would continue "for as long as necessary" in the south, he said.
Gallant set out his plan in a document called "vision for Phase 3" of the war, though his office said the next stage had not yet begun.
It also specified that these ideas were Gallant's and not official policy, which would be defined by Israel's war and security cabinets.
Israel has come under heavy pressure from allies to spell out its post-war vision for the Palestinian enclave, but has not done so until now.
The issue is set to be on the agenda during talks between Blinken, Israel and representatives of other countries in the region over the weekend.
The vagueness of Gallant's vision makes it difficult to assess whether Washington will agree.
However, the US has been pressing Israel to scale down its military operations in Gaza, amid soaring civilian casualties and a dire humanitarian situation.
Palestinian authorities say more than 22,000 people – mostly women and children – have been killed since the Israeli onslaught began.
Much of northern Gaza has been flattened beyond recognition by Israeli bombardment, as some 85% of the Strip's 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes.
The Wall Street Journal reported that almost half of Gaza's buildings have been damaged or destroyed by the fighting.