Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has threatened to destroy all remaining parts of Gaza City and force the evacuation of approximately one million Gazans if Hamas takes a single Israeli hostage.
Katz stated on Tuesday that these threats are a response to an increasing threat picture regarding potential aggressive actions from Turkey, Iran, and proxies such as Hamas. He described such measures as the only way to deter jihadist enemies from attacking Israel. In a post on X, Katz warned that the “gates of hell” would open upon Hamas unless the group agrees to Israel’s conditions for ending the war, specifically the dismantling of weapons and the release of all hostages. Katz warned that if these conditions are not met, Gaza City—which he called Hamas’s capital—will be turned into ruins, similar to the devastation seen in Beit Hanoun and Rafah.
Military Plans for Gaza City
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved plans on Thursday, August 21, for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to take control of Gaza City. Netanyahu stated in a video address that the goal is to defeat Hamas and that Israel intends to fully occupy the Gaza Strip.
An Israeli military official indicated that the offensive will focus on securing the release of all hostages and targeting terror infrastructure,
with a specific focus on the tunnel network. The operation is expected to involve the call-up of at least 50,000 reservists, bringing total troop strength to 120,000.
While the IDF currently controls between 63% and 75% of Gaza, according to different reports, Katz stated that no partial withdrawals will be made until Hamas is fully disarmed.
International Reaction and Humanitarian Context
The plan to implement Israeli security control
over the entire Gaza Strip and take over Gaza City was initially announced on August 8, drawing criticism from several Western governments. Foreign ministers from Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Germany, and the U.K. issued a joint statement rejecting the plan, asserting it would aggravate a situation they described as already “catastrophic.”
The conflict has seen significant casualties and displacement. Health officials in the enclave report more than 61,000 Palestinians killed, while Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks killed about 1,200 people, primarily civilians. Most of Gaza’s population of roughly 2 million has been displaced multiple times over the last 22 months, and aid groups have warned of a looming famine.
Hamas stated this week that it agreed to a ceasefire proposal from Arab mediators. The phased deal involves a pullback of Israeli troops and prisoner and hostage exchanges. However, the parties do not negotiate directly, and previous similar announcements have not resulted in ceasefires.
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