TEL AVIV: Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday warned that Israel will seize more territory in Gaza if Hamas continues to refuse to release the remaining hostages, as the country intensifies its military campaign in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
Speaking on Tuesday, Katz said that Israel would continue its military operations until Hamas is eliminated.
“If Hamas continues with its intransigence, it will pay heavy prices that get higher and higher in the taking of territory [by Israel] and in taking out militants and terror infrastructure until its complete surrender,” he said in a video message reported by Israeli media.
His remarks come as mediators work to salvage a ceasefire deal, which was shattered when Israel resumed air and ground assaults on Gaza on 18 March.
The truce had largely held since 19 January but collapsed after both sides failed to agree on terms for its extension.
Escalation in Gaza
The Israeli military last week announced that its forces had launched a ground operation in central and southern Gaza, following renewed bombardments that have led to significant casualties.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 792 Palestinians have been killed in the past week alone, including 62 in the last 24 hours.
The overall death toll since the conflict began on 7 October 2023 has now risen to 50,144, with more than 113,000 people wounded, the ministry reported on Tuesday.
Israel argues that its military campaign targets Hamas fighters, whom it accuses of operating within civilian areas.
The Israeli government claims to have killed around 20,000 militants but has not provided independent verification of this figure.
Hamas is still holding 59 captives, with 24 believed to be alive, according to Israeli sources.
The Palestinian group had seized more than 250 hostages during its 7 October attack. While many have been freed through negotiated exchanges, the fate of the remaining captives remains uncertain.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has justified the renewed offensive as necessary to force Hamas to release the remaining hostages.
“We will not accept a scenario in which Hamas retains military power or governs Gaza,” Netanyahu has repeatedly stated.
Mass displacement and evacuation orders
As the fighting intensifies, the Israeli military has expanded evacuation orders across northern Gaza, affecting tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Residents of Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and Shejaia have been ordered to leave, while similar directives have been issued for areas in Khan Younis and Rafah in the south.
“For your safety, you must move immediately south to known shelters,” the Israeli army said in its evacuation orders.
However, most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have already been displaced multiple times, leaving them with few options for refuge.
