Katz: Gaza City could face destruction

Israel’s defense minister issued a stark warning on Friday, saying Gaza City could face total destruction unless Hamas agrees to Israel’s terms. The announcement comes as the Israeli government prepares to launch a large-scale military operation in the enclave’s largest urban center.

Katz Issues Dire Warning

Just a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed he would authorize the army to seize Gaza City, Defense Minister Israel Katz drew parallels with other devastated areas. He warned the city could “turn into Rafah and Beit Hanoun,” both of which were heavily reduced to rubble earlier in the war.

“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 wrote on X.

He reiterated Israel’s ceasefire demands: the release of all hostages and the full disarmament of Hamas. While Hamas has indicated willingness to exchange hostages for an end to the war, its leaders reject disarmament without recognition of a Palestinian state.

Military officials suggested that the expanded offensive in Gaza City could begin within days.

The Stakes in Gaza City

Gaza City is considered the core of Hamas’ military and political operations, sitting atop what Israel describes as an extensive underground tunnel system. The city also shelters hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians and hosts essential infrastructure, including hospitals and aid centers.

Hamas claimed earlier this week that it had accepted a ceasefire proposal mediated by Arab states. The plan calls for a phased arrangement involving hostage and prisoner swaps, Israeli troop withdrawals, and ongoing talks toward a broader truce. However, Israel has shown little willingness to embrace such terms, pointing to internal divisions within Netanyahu’s coalition and opposition from right-wing allies.

Rising Fears Over Hostages and Humanitarian Crisis

The looming operation has raised alarm within Israel and abroad. Families of hostages worry that a direct assault could endanger the roughly 20 captives believed to still be alive following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Humanitarian organizations warn that a full-scale assault on Gaza City would deepen an already catastrophic crisis. Evacuating civilians remains a massive logistical challenge. Many residents say displacement orders are futile because no area in Gaza is safe, while doctors stress that moving patients south is impossible due to a lack of medical facilities to receive them.

Netanyahu Stands Firm

Despite these concerns, Netanyahu has argued that a decisive offensive is the most effective path toward freeing hostages and dismantling Hamas’ military power.

“These two things — defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages — go hand in hand,” he said Thursday while touring a command center in southern Israel.

As tensions escalate, the coming days may determine whether the war intensifies further or whether a fragile ceasefire deal can be salvaged.