Hamas Ready To Release Hostages: Netanyahu Says Nothing New, Katz Threatens To Destroy Gaza

JAKARTA - The Israeli prime minister said nothing was new to Hamas, while Israeli Defense Minister Katz threatened to destroy the Gaza Strip, responding to a statement the Palestinian militant group was ready to release hostages.

Hamas expressed his readiness, after former United States President Donald Trump issued a stern warning that all hostages still in Gaza be released.

Benjamin Netanyahu's Office of Prime Minister (PMO) called it "further disbursement by Hamas, without containing anything new," quoted from The Times of Israel September 4.

The PMO stated that the war could end soon if five terms were met: the release of all hostages; the removal of Hamas weapons; demilitarization of the Gaza Strip; Israel's security control in Gaza; "the formation of an alternative civilian government that does not indoctrinate terror, does not spread terror and does not threaten Israel."

"Only these conditions will prevent Hamas from rearming and repeating the October 7 massacre repeatedly, as he publicly promised," the Israeli PM's office said.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Katz warned Hamas would soon face difficult options: accepting Israeli terms to end the war - including the release of all hostages and the removal of arms - or seeing Gaza City "becoming like Rafah and Beit Hanoun," accusing the group of continuing to "feed and say empty words."

Israel itself is known to be preparing for an expanded attack to conquer Gaza City.

As previously reported, President Trump on Wednesday urged Hamas to immediately release the hostages in Gaza, warning "the situation will change quickly."

"Tell Hamas to immediately return all 20 hostages (Not 2, 5, or 7!), and the situation will change quickly. THIS will END!" wrote President Trump on his Truth Social account, quoted from Anadolu.

Meanwhile, Hamas said in a statement that he was still waiting for Israel's response to the August 18 mediation proposal, calling for the release of 10 of the 20 hostages believed to be still alive, quoted from Ynetnews.

The group added that it is ready for a full exchange: "the release of all Israeli prisoners in exchange for a number of agreed Palestinian prisoners, based on agreements that would end the fighting, withdraw Israeli troops from Gaza, open crossings, and begin reconstruction."