Daijiworld Media Network- Gaza

Gaza, Aug 22: Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has issued a grave warning to Hamas, declaring that “the gates of hell will open” if the militant group does not agree to disarm, release all remaining hostages, and end the conflict on Tel Aviv’s terms.

The warning comes as Israel prepares for a massive military offensive to seize Gaza City, a stronghold of Hamas.

“Soon, the gates of hell will open upon the heads of Hamas’s murderers and rapists in Gaza – until they agree to Israel’s conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all hostages and their disarmament,” Katz said in a social media post. He further warned that if Hamas refuses, “Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun,” referring to two cities in Gaza that were previously reduced to rubble during Israeli strikes.

A day earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had authorised the military to launch an operation to capture Gaza City and dismantle Hamas’s command structures. Netanyahu said negotiations for hostage release would accompany the assault, stressing that defeating Hamas and freeing captives were inseparable goals.

To prepare for the offensive, Israel’s Defence Ministry has approved the mobilisation of 60,000 reservists.

Meanwhile, mediators are awaiting Israel’s response to a ceasefire proposal accepted by Hamas earlier this week, which includes staggered hostage releases. However, Israel insists that all captives must be freed simultaneously.

The planned Gaza City takeover has triggered global concern and rising domestic opposition. Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel left 1,219 people dead, mostly civilians, while Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 62,000 Palestinians, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry, which the UN has deemed credible.