Jerusalem, Mar 21 (EFE).- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday ordered the army to seize additional territory in the Gaza Strip and warned of potential annexation if Hamas does not release the remaining hostages.
“As long as Hamas continues its refusal, it will lose more and more land that will be added to Israel,” Katz said, according to a defense ministry statement published by local media.
“I instructed the (Israeli Defense Forces) IDF to capture additional areas, evacuate the population, and expand the security zone around Gaza for the protection of Israeli communities and IDF soldiers.”
In recent days, Israel has ordered the evacuation of eastern neighborhoods in Khan Younis and Beni Suheila in southern Gaza, as well as Beit Lahia in the north.
The IDF has also partially occupied the Netzarim corridor, a strategic route previously used by the army to divide northern and southern Gaza.
Katz said that Israel would “intensify” its military campaign and expand its ground operations until the remaining 59 hostages were freed and Hamas defeated.
He reaffirmed Israel’s for a US proposal that calls for the release of all hostages, both living and dead, in two phases, separated by a temporary ceasefire.
“We are fully committed to this proposal, which does not compromise Israel’s security interests,” Katz said.
Hamas has rejected the US proposal, instead demanding adherence to the previously signed agreement that calls for moving directly into the second phase.
Katz warned that Israel would use “all military and civilian means” to force Hamas into compliance, including evacuating Gaza’s population to the south and implementing US President Donald Trump’s so-called “voluntary migration” plan for Palestinians.
The international community has condemned Trump’s migration proposal, describing it as a form of ethnic cleansing.
The first phase of the ceasefire began on Jan. 19 and ended on Mar. 2. However, the second phase, originally scheduled to begin the same day, was delayed due to stalled negotiations, leaving the situation in a deadlock.
On Tuesday, Israel effectively broke the ceasefire by launching heavy airstrikes across Gaza, followed by a renewed ground operation in the north, which has reportedly resulted in hundreds of deaths.
Since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023, nearly 50,000 Gazans have been killed and over 110,000 injured amid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the enclave. EFE
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