Israel has warned that Gaza City could face destruction unless Hamas accepts its conditions, with preparations under way for a large-scale military offensive.
Defence Minister Israel Katz issued the stark threat on Friday, declaring that the city could “turn into Rafah and Beit Hanoun”, areas reduced to rubble earlier in the conflict, if Hamas refuses Israel’s demands.
“The gates of hell will soon open on the heads of Hamas’ murderers and rapists in Gaza, until they agree to Israel’s conditions for ending the war,” Katz said in a post on X.
His comments came a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled he was ready to authorise the Israeli military to mount a major operation to seize control of Gaza City.
Israel’s Terms
Israel has set two core conditions for halting its campaign: the release of all hostages still held in Gaza and the complete disarmament of Hamas.
Hamas, however, has rejected disarmament unless Israel recognises a Palestinian state. The group has said it would release captives as part of a ceasefire, but the two sides remain far apart.
Strategic Importance
Gaza City is both the political and military stronghold of Hamas and is thought to sit above a vast underground tunnel system. It is also home to hundreds of thousands of civilians and retains key infrastructure, including hospitals.
Any Israeli assault on the city is expected to be complex and could begin within days.
Ceasefire Proposal
Earlier this week, Hamas announced it had agreed to a ceasefire plan put forward by Arab mediators. The proposal includes phased hostage and prisoner exchanges, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and talks towards a long-term truce.
Israel has resisted such terms, with a similar agreement collapsing earlier this year amid divisions within Mr Netanyahu’s coalition and opposition from right-wing allies.
Humanitarian Concerns
Aid organisations and international leaders have warned that a new offensive would worsen Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Evacuation orders have already been described as “unworkable” by medical groups, who say there are no facilities in the south capable of receiving large numbers of patients.
Many civilians, repeatedly displaced since the war began, insist that nowhere in Gaza is safe.
Despite growing international pressure, Mr Netanyahu has maintained that the offensive is essential both to defeat Hamas and to secure the release of hostages.
“These two things, defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages, go hand in hand,” he said during a visit to a military command centre in southern Israel.
