Escalation of Violence: Israel's Defense Minister Demands Territory Seizure in Gaza

Following the breakdown of a ceasefire, Israeli forces continue airstrikes and ground maneuvers, claiming responsibility for hundreds of casualties.

In a recent escalation, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz declared the military will “seize additional areas in Gaza” if Hamas fails to release all hostages. On Friday, Katz emphasized that ground operations would occur “with increasing intensity” until all hostages, living and deceased, are returned to Israel. This warning comes as the conflict reappeared this week, following the end of a ceasefire that had allowed for a temporary halt in violence since January. The renewed Israeli airstrikes have reportedly left hundreds dead.

“The more Hamas continues its refusal, the more territory it will lose to Israel,” Katz stated, suggesting that further actions against the group would be taken. Despite ongoing bombardments, Israel still expressed conditional agreement to a proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff, which seeks the staged release of all hostages coupled with a ceasefire.

Katz’s announcement pushes for an intensification of military strikes through the air, land, and sea, urging that efforts would continue until Hamas is defeated and the hostages are freed. Additionally, he referenced US President Donald Trump’s plan for a “voluntary transfer” of Gazan residents, which has drawn significant backlash and is deemed illegal under international law due to concerns about ethnic cleansing.

Months of negotiations led by the US, Qatar, and Egypt aimed to establish a ceasefire have remained fractious, with recent Israeli airstrikes resulting in over 430 casualties within two days, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. In retaliation, Hamas launched rockets targeting Tel Aviv. Government spokesman David Mencer attributed the renewed violence to Hamas’s rejection of proposed hostage deals.

Israel claims 59 hostages remain in Hamas' custody, with 24 believed to be alive. Despite ongoing tensions, Hamas insists it is fully engaged in negotiations aimed at achieving a prisoner exchange while calling Israel's accusations misleading.

Separately, Katz stated that Israeli military operations include measures to evacuate civilians from targeted zones. However, previous evacuation requests have incited panic among Palestinian families, many of whom have already faced displacement due to the sustained conflict. Since an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, where around 1,200 people died and hundreds were taken hostage, more than 48,500 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives in Gaza amidst widespread devastation of homes and infrastructure.