On Friday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz pledged to obliterate Gaza City if Hamas fails to disarm, release all hostages, and end the conflict under Israel’s terms.
Katz warned on social media, “The gates of hell will soon open over Hamas’s murderers and rapists in Gaza until they comply with Israel’s conditions, primarily releasing all hostages and disarming.”
He added, “If they refuse, Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will transform into Rafah and Beit Hanoun,” referencing two cities extensively damaged in previous Israeli operations.
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His statement followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Thursday announcement of immediate negotiations to free all hostages in Gaza.
Netanyahu emphasized that the effort to release hostages would coincide with operations to take control of Gaza City and dismantle the Hamas base.
Earlier, the defence ministry called up approximately 60,000 reservists to assist in seizing Gaza City.
“Defeating Hamas and releasing our hostages are interconnected,” Netanyahu stated in a video, without detailing the next steps of the negotiations.
Mediators have awaited Israel’s official response to their latest ceasefire proposition, accepted by Hamas earlier this week.
Palestinian sources noted the new agreement entails phased hostage releases, while Israel demands all captives be freed simultaneously.
Plans to intensify the conflict and capture Gaza City have drawn international criticism and domestic dissent.
Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in 1,219 deaths, primarily civilians, per an AFP tally of official data.
According to figures from Gaza’s health ministry, considered reliable by the UN, Israel’s offensive has led to over 62,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians.
