The Prime Minister's Office clarified on Thursday that the political echelon did not authorize the International Stabilization Force (ISF) to enter the Gaza Strip and denied reports on the matter.
The PMO further clarified that Israel will not allow the reconstruction of Gaza to begin until Hamas fully disarms.
"In contrast with reports, the political echelon did not authorize the entry of the international force to the Gaza Strip," the statement read. "Israel clarified that there will be no reconstruction in the Strip before the full disarmament of Hamas."
The clarification comes after, earlier in the week, the Tzav 9 movement and the Otef Israel Forum published footage from the American base in Kerem Shalom.
According to the organizations, the footage shows the arrival of the ISF forces ahead of the commencement of reconstruction work in areas of the Gaza Strip that are under IDF control.
The Otef Israel Forum claimed that the declarations that the reconstruction will not begin until Hamas is disarmed concern only areas under the terrorist organization's control. The organization claimed that according to Article 17 of the agreement, reconstruction in areas controlled by the IDF within the Yellow Line is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks.
The forum further claimed that the ISF and the Board of Peace have already begun preliminary tours of the enclave ahead of the planned reconstruction. "We, as residents of the Gaza envelope, will not allow this to happen. We will continue standing up for our security and our right to live in peace," the organization stated.
Tzav 9 also criticized the possibility that the reconstruction will proceed before Hamas disarms. "Any reconstruction in the Gaza Strip before the full disarmament of Hamas means reconstructing terrorist infrastructure, granting a prize to and encouraging Hamas to continue to oppose disarmament, and a burning defeat for us in the war," the organization stated.
Tzav 9 announced that it would hold a protest in Kerem Shalom next Tuesday against the move. "Our lives are not worth less," they said.