Israel Katz: Gaza City Could be Destroyed Unless Hamas Yields to Israel Terms/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israel’s defense minister warned Gaza City could face total destruction unless Hamas agrees to Israeli demands. Airstrikes have already killed at least 17 Palestinians, and famine is tightening its grip on the city. Meanwhile, efforts to resume hostage negotiations appear stalled amid rising fears of a broader assault.
Gaza Conflict Escalates: Quick Looks
- Israel warns Gaza City could be destroyed if Hamas refuses ceasefire terms.
- 17 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes Friday, including in a schoolyard.
- Famine confirmed in Gaza City as humanitarian conditions collapse.
- Netanyahu says offensive needed to defeat Hamas and free hostages.
- Israeli forces expected to launch full-scale operation within days.
- Hostage negotiations may resume, though exact terms remain unclear.
- Civilians trapped; many say nowhere in Gaza is safe.
- Gaza Health Ministry reports over 62,000 Palestinians killed in the war.
Israel Katz: Gaza City Could be Destroyed Unless Hamas Yields to Israel Terms
Deep Look
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Tensions are mounting as Israel’s defense minister warned Friday that Gaza City could face complete destruction unless Hamas accepts Israel’s ceasefire demands. The stark warning came as Israeli airstrikes claimed at least 17 more Palestinian lives, further worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis marked by famine, mass displacement, and collapsed infrastructure.
“The gates of hell will soon open on the heads of Hamas’ murderers and rapists,” said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz in a post on X, vowing relentless escalation unless Hamas releases all hostages and disarms.
Katz’s comments follow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that a major ground operation in Gaza City is imminent. Israel insists the city remains a key Hamas stronghold — riddled with militant tunnels and command centers — and poses an ongoing threat.
Famine Deepens as Military Campaign Expands
The threat of an expanded offensive comes just a day after global food authorities declared that famine is already present in Gaza City, with projections showing it could spread southward within weeks. Food shortages, restricted aid, and constant bombardment have pushed hundreds of thousands into catastrophic hunger.
International aid groups and U.N. officials warn that a full-scale assault could dramatically worsen the humanitarian emergency, leaving civilians with no safe routes of escape or access to aid. Medical organizations have already said that evacuating hospitals and patients is logistically impossible, with many facilities damaged or destroyed.
Airstrikes Hit Civilians Ahead of Assault
As Israeli forces tighten their grip on the area, strikes are intensifying.
On Friday, a schoolyard sheltering displaced families in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood was bombed, killing at least seven, according to local hospitals and eyewitness accounts. The Israeli military stated it was unaware of a strike in that specific location but confirmed troop operations around Gaza City and Zeitoun.
Shifa Hospital, one of the last remaining functional hospitals in northern Gaza, reported a death toll of 17 from Friday’s attacks, including multiple women and children.
Residents Say There’s Nowhere Left to Run
For many residents, repeated Israeli evacuation orders have become meaningless. Amal Aboul Aas, who has been displaced four times, now shelters in Gaza City and refuses to leave again.
“We don’t have the money, the strength, or the will to evacuate,” she told the Associated Press. “Eventually one of these missiles will hit me. I just want a quick death.”
As the city braces for a possible siege, families remain caught between staying in dangerous zones or attempting to flee to areas already overcrowded and equally unsafe.
Hostage Talks Remain Fragile
Netanyahu has stated that the primary goal of the offensive is to both defeat Hamas and secure the release of hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack.
“Defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages go hand in hand,” he said during a visit to a command center in southern Israel.
Of the 251 hostages taken during the October attack, 50 remain in Gaza, and around 20 are believed to be alive. Israel has so far rescued eight hostages and recovered the bodies of 49 others.
Recent reports suggest that Israel may be open to resuming mediated talks, possibly through Qatar and Egypt. The latest ceasefire proposal reportedly includes phased hostage releases, Israeli troop withdrawals, and further negotiations toward a longer-term truce. However, Israeli hardliners remain resistant to any deal perceived as a concession.
Death Toll Rises, With Children Among Victims
The Gaza Health Ministry reported Friday that the death toll from the war has reached 62,263 Palestinians, with 273 deaths attributed to malnutrition, including 112 children.
The ministry, while part of Hamas’ governing structure, is widely recognized by U.N. agencies and independent monitors as the most consistent source of casualty figures. It does not distinguish between militants and civilians, but estimates that around half of the dead are women and children.
Israel disputes these figures but has not provided alternative verified data.
The war began after Hamas militants launched a surprise assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking more than 250 hostages.
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