Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz has directed the IDF to expand its control over additional areas of Gaza and enhance Israel’s security perimeter surrounding the Gaza Strip.
“Israel will continue its operation with increasing force, until Hamas releases the hostages,” Katz stated. “We are keeping to the proposal by US Special Envoy Witkoff to release all of the hostages, living and no longer alive, ahead of time and in two groups with a ceasefire in the process – without endangering Israel’s security interests.”
He further emphasized, “If the Hamas terror group refuses to release the hostages, I have instructed the IDF to take over additional areas, while evacuating the civilian population, and expand the security areas around Gaza for the purpose of protecting the Israeli towns and the IDF soldiers, by a permanent Israeli hold on the land.”
“As long as Hamas remains steadfast in its refusal, it will lose more and more land, which will be added to Israel,” Katz warned.
“We will increase the fighting with strikes from the air, the sea, and the ground, and by expanding the ground operations until the hostages are released and Hamas is defeated, while using all military and civilian means, including evacuation of Gazans southwards and implementing US President Trump’s plan of voluntary emigration,” Katz added.
Earlier this week, the IDF and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) began launching extensive strikes on Hamas terror targets in Gaza. These actions followed Hamas’ rejection of US envoy Steve Witkoff’s proposal and its refusal to release additional hostages.
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