Israel’s finance minister said preparations for the construction of three Jewish settlements in northern Gaza Strip have been completed and that implementing them only requires Benjamin Netanyahu’s approval. Bezalel Smotrich, in a meeting with the mayor of Sderot, said that the Israeli army now controls nearly 70% of the Gaza Strip and must “complete the remaining occupation,” defeat Hamas, and create a belt of Jewish settlements to protect areas in southern Israel. Netanyahu also, in a separate interview, when asked about the likelihood of the return of Jewish settlement activity to Gaza, avoided providing a direct answer.