Defense Minister Katz: Israel Will Seize More Gaza Regions Until Hamas Frees All Hostages

Israeli Defense Minister Katz. (Source: Elad Malka/Defense Ministry)

JAKARTA - Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, on Friday ordered the military to seize more territory in the Gaza Strip until Hamas agreed to release all hostages and leave the region.

Fighting in Gaza broke out again in the early hours of Tuesday, with Israeli bombings killing hundreds of Palestinians, destroying a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. US President Donald Trump's government expressed full support for the new attack, after last month proposing that two million Palestinians in Gaza be re-imposed in other countries.

The first phase of the ceasefire was imposed on January 19, but ended on March 1 when the parties could not agree to a path forward.

Israel, with US support, wants to extend the first phase of the agreement, while Hamas insists on continuing to the second phase of the agreement, which will require the release of all hostages, talks towards a permanent ceasefire, and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

Defense Minister Katz said if Hamas continued to refuse to release the hostages, he had ordered the Israeli military to "arrest additional territory, while evacuating residents, and expanding the security zone around Gaza to protect Israeli society and soldiers, through Israel's permanent control of the region," quoted from The National 21 March.

"The more Hamas continue to refuse to release those kidnapped, the more territory that will disappear from Israel," Defense Minister Katz said in a statement from his office.

Israeli attacks since Tuesday in Gaza have killed more than 500 people.

A Gaza City resident told The National an Israeli plane dropped leaflets ordering civilians to leave the area, north of the enclave, on Thursday.

Reuters reported people being ordered out of the northern cities of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, Shejaia District in Gaza and the cities of the eastern suburbs of Khan Younis, in the south.

The width, featuring a photo of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, said "world maps will not change if all Gazans disappear", in a new threat to culling the enclave.

"No one will pay attention to you, no one will ask about you. You are left alone to face your inevitable fate," the leaflet reads.

"Both the US and Europe don't care about Gaza. Even Arab countries you don't care about, they are now our allies, they gave us money, weapons, and oil. They just sent you cloth," the leaflet wrote.

The warning comes as Egypt vehemently denies reports it has agreed to accommodate 500,000 Palestinians from Gaza in the holiday resort town of Sharm El Sheikh.

The country's information services said Egypt's consistent position was "absolute and final rejection" of efforts to displace Palestinians.

After retaking some of the strategic Netzarim Corridor that divides northern and southern Gaza, Israeli forces resumed ground operations on Thursday and Friday to Beit Lahia, and Rafah in the south.

The aid blockade to the route, which was enforced on March 2, is still in effect because Gazans have fled again to areas far from fighting.

"Gaza residents, this is your last warning. The first Sinwar has destroyed Gaza, and the second Sinwar will bring total destruction," he said, referring to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who died in October, and his brother Mohammed, a senior Hamas commander who is thought to be still alive.

"Israel's Air Force attack on Hamas terrorists is just the first step. What happens next will be much tougher, and you will suffer the full consequences," Defense Minister Katz said in a video message.

He added that forcing Palestinians to leave "the fighting zone will start again soon".

"If all the Israeli hostages are not released and Hamas are not expelled from Gaza, Israel will act with violence you have never known before," he said.

Defense Minister Katz said Gazans would have "new options" that include "relocation to other parts of the world" otherwise, the alternative being "total collapse and destruction".