Israel’s defense minister says its troops will remain in so-called security zones in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely, after Israel unilaterally expanded its frontiers in the war unleashed by Hamas’ Oct.

Israeli forces have taken over more than half of Gaza in a renewed campaign to pressure Hamas to release hostages after Israel ended their ceasefire last month.

Israel intends to keep all territories it has captured in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria under permanent military control. The army will remain in the occupied "security zones" to act as a buffer between hostile fighters and Israel "in any temporary or permanent reality" in those areas,