ISRAELI troops will remain indefinitely in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria, Defence Minister Israel Katz said today, and continue to occupy so-called security zones.

Tel Aviv’s forces have taken over more than half of Gaza in a renewed invasion after Israel ended a ceasefire last month. 

Israel has also refused to withdraw from some areas in Lebanon following a ceasefire with Hezbollah last year. In addition, it seized a buffer zone in southern Syria after rebels overthrew president Bashar al-Assad in December.