Israel: Israel on Friday issued its harshest warning yet to Hamas, saying Gaza City could meet the fate of Rafah and Beit Hanoun if the militant group fails to surrender and release all remaining hostages. Defense Minister Israel Katz, in a strongly worded post on social media, declared, “The gates of hell will soon open on the heads of Hamas’ murderers and rapists.”
The warning comes as Israeli forces prepare for a large-scale ground assault on Gaza City, considered the last major Hamas stronghold. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backed the plan, insisting that Israel will not halt operations until Hamas is dismantled and the hostages—captured during the October 2023 attacks—are freed. “This is a war for our very existence,” Netanyahu has said in earlier briefings.
Israel Katz’s comments also came after the Israeli cabinet approved plans for a massive assault on Gaza City, despite widespread international and domestic opposition.
On Monday, Hamas agreed to a proposal by Qatari and Egyptian mediators for a 60-day ceasefire, which according to Qatar would see the release of half of the remaining hostages in Gaza, reported the BBC.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apparently rejected this. He had instructed negotiations to begin for the release of all remaining hostages and an end to the war in Gaza on terms “acceptable to Israel”.
Israeli troops have already encircled large parts of the city, and tens of thousands of reservists have been called up as the army signals an expanded offensive. Airstrikes continued overnight on key targets, even as the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens. Aid agencies, including the UN and the International Red Cross, have warned that a full-blown offensive would have catastrophic consequences for civilians, who are trapped with little food, water, or medical supplies. Hospitals remain overwhelmed and evacuation options are virtually nonexistent.
According to Gaza health authorities, more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict erupted nearly two years ago. Entire neighborhoods have been flattened, and famine conditions are deepening, raising fears of mass starvation if the siege intensifies.
Diplomatic efforts to prevent a new assault have so far faltered. Hamas has reportedly accepted a ceasefire framework brokered by Arab states, which includes phased hostage exchanges and partial Israeli troop withdrawals. However, Israel has made it clear that disarmament of Hamas remains a non-negotiable demand—something the group has repeatedly rejected. Netanyahu’s government is also under growing internal pressure, with far-right coalition partners pushing for a decisive military blow, while families of Israeli hostages plead for a negotiated deal to save their loved ones.
The standoff leaves Gaza City on edge, as signs point to an imminent military push that could mark one of the deadliest phases of the war.
