The Washington Post quoted an Israeli official as saying, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s presentation of the post-war plan in the Gaza Strip surprised many in the Israeli government,” expecting that the step was made in coordination with the American administration.

Netanyahu presented to the security mini-ministerial council (the cabinet) a document of principles related to the policy of the day after the Gaza war, which includes Israel’s preservation of freedom to operate in the entire Gaza Strip without a time limit, and also includes the establishment of a security zone in the Strip adjacent to Israeli towns, “It will remain in place as long as there is a security need for it.”