Israel’s Defense Minister has declared that Gaza City will be razed if Hamas does not agree to the government’s terms for ending the war. The ultimatum demands the militant group’s complete disarmament and the release of all remaining hostages.
Cabinet Approves Gaza City Assault-Military Plans
The Israeli cabinet has approved plans for a massive military operation in Gaza City. This decision comes despite significant international concern and domestic opposition. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he visited IDF headquarters to “approve the IDF’s plans to take control of Gaza City and defeat Hamas.”
Hamas Ceasefire Proposal and Israeli Rejection
This escalation follows a Hamas agreement to a Qatari-Egyptian mediated proposal for a 60-day ceasefire. The deal reportedly included the release of half of the remaining hostages. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected the proposal, insisting negotiations must be based on terms “acceptable to Israel,” primarily the release of all hostages and an end to the threat from Hamas.
Humanitarian Crisis and Warnings of Famine
The United Nations has issued severe warnings about the potential consequences of a new Gaza City assault. Intensifying attacks are causing “high numbers of civilian casualties and large-scale destruction.” Aid groups fear the operation will drastically worsen the humanitarian disaster. A UN-backed initiative has already warned that the “worst-case scenario of famine” is currently “playing out in Gaza.”
The IDF has instructed a full evacuation of the city’s one million residents, a move the Hamas-run health ministry rejects as it would “undermine what remains of the health system.” The UN and other aid organizations have vowed to remain to assist those unable to flee.
The Path Forward for Hostage Negotiations
Israeli media reports that negotiators will be dispatched for renewed talks once a location is determined. Netanyahu asserts that “defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages go hand in hand.” Israel believes only 20 of the original 50 hostages from this phase are still alive after 22 months of conflict.
The war began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 62,000 people have been killed in the territory since then. These figures are cited by the UN as the most reliable available.
Source: The Gaza Health Ministry’s casualty figures are widely used by international organizations, including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
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