Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Friday that Israel has ordered its troops to permanently seize parts of the Gaza Strip unless Hamas releases the remaining hostages. This decision comes after Israel broke the two-month ceasefire with Hamas and resumed airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of nearly 600 people.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has pledged to escalate military operations until Hamas releases the 59 hostages who are still held captive. Katz stated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been instructed to take control of additional areas in Gaza, expand security zones around Gaza, and evacuate the population from these areas for the safety of Israeli communities and IDF soldiers.
Katz also mentioned the possibility of using various military and civilian pressure tactics, including the evacuation of Gaza’s population southward and implementing relocation plans for Gaza residents. He warned that if Hamas continues to refuse to release the hostages, they will lose more territory, which will be annexed to Israel under permanent Israeli control.
Hamas stated that it remains engaged in negotiations and is exploring proposals, including the Witkoff proposal and other ideas on the table, with the goal of achieving a prisoner exchange deal to secure the release of prisoners, end the conflict, and facilitate withdrawal.
Since the ceasefire in January, Netanyahu has been under pressure from hostage families urging for their return and coalition members threatening his government’s stability unless he resumes military action. Following the breakdown of the ceasefire, Israel launched strikes into Gaza, accusing Hamas of failing to release more hostages.
The ceasefire agreement involved the exchange of 1,800 Palestinian prisoners and detainees for the return of hostages. However, the second phase of the agreement, which was supposed to include the exchange of all remaining hostages and a permanent ceasefire, did not materialize. Netanyahu accepted a proposal to extend the ceasefire by 50 days to allow for further discussions, despite Hamas rejecting it.
The White House has supported Israel’s decisions but has not yet responded to comments made by Katz on Friday.
On Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned that there would be significant consequences.
