Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has issued a stern warning, declaring that Gaza City will face complete destruction unless Hamas agrees to lay down its weapons, release all hostages still in its custody, and accept Israel’s conditions for ending the war.
“Soon, the gates of hell will open upon the heads of Hamas’s murderers and rapists in Gaza until they agree to Israel’s conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all hostages and their disarmament,” Katz wrote on social media.
He further stressed that “If they do not agree, Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun,” citing two cities in Gaza that had already been heavily devastated during earlier Israeli military campaigns.
The statement came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that he had directed officials to begin urgent negotiations with the aim of securing the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza. Netanyahu emphasized that this move would not halt but rather complement Israel’s ongoing military strategy.
He explained that the negotiations to free captives would run parallel with the planned operation to gain control of Gaza City and dismantle Hamas’s main base. Earlier in the week, Israel’s defence ministry had approved the mobilisation of about 60,000 reservists to strengthen the forces tasked with advancing into Gaza City.
“These two matters—defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages—go hand in hand,” Netanyahu said in a video address, though he did not elaborate on what form the upcoming negotiations might take.
International mediators have been anticipating Israel’s response to a new ceasefire proposal presented to both parties. While Hamas accepted the terms earlier in the week, Palestinian sources revealed that the agreement would involve phased hostage releases. Israel, however, has insisted that every captive must be freed at once before any truce can be finalised.
Israel’s declaration of its intent to intensify the war and extend operations into Gaza City has drawn sharp criticism abroad, as well as growing dissent within its borders. The ongoing conflict traces back to Hamas’s surprise assault on Israel in October 2023, which killed 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to official counts compiled by AFP.
Since then, Israel’s military campaign has claimed the lives of more than 62,000 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians, based on figures released by Gaza’s health ministry, which are regarded by the United Nations as credible.
What you should know
Israel Katz, a longtime Israeli politician and current Defence Minister, has taken a hard-line stance in the ongoing Gaza conflict, warning Hamas that Gaza City could face destruction if the group refuses Israel’s demands.
His remarks echo the Israeli government’s broader strategy under Prime Minister Netanyahu: military pressure alongside conditional negotiations.
The standoff underscores the war’s intensity, with hostages, ceasefire talks, and rising casualties shaping both domestic politics and international reactions.
