Defence Minister Katz orders IDF to seize more of Gaza unless Hamas frees captives, as rockets hit Israel and military strikes intensify

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas: release the remaining hostages or face the annexation of parts of the Gaza Strip. His announcement follows the collapse of a ceasefire earlier this week, reigniting intense Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives across the enclave.

On Friday, Hamas launched two rockets at Ashkelon—the second such attack in two days—both of which were intercepted by Israeli air defences. In response, the IDF pushed deeper into Gaza, targeting militant infrastructure and issuing evacuation orders to civilians.

Katz’s threat marks a dramatic escalation, signalling a potential shift in Israeli policy. “If Hamas continues its refusal, it will lose more and more land that will be added to Israel,” he declared, ordering troops to seize additional territory. While the annexation of Gaza would trigger a global backlash, Israel appears determined to apply maximum pressure on Hamas.

France swiftly condemned the idea, reaffirming its support for a two-state solution. Meanwhile, reports surfaced that Egypt might temporarily absorb 500,000 Palestinian refugees under US President Trump’s migration plan—though Cairo strongly denied the claims.

Amid the chaos, Israel has intensified its military campaign. The IDF confirmed the killing of Osama Tabash, Hamas’s southern Gaza intelligence chief, in an airstrike. Tabash was a key figure in Hamas operations, including planning attacks and directing intelligence efforts. His death, Israeli officials claim, deals a significant blow to Hamas’s command structure.

The IDF also expanded ground operations, demolishing what it described as a Hamas command centre inside the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in central Gaza. The military said the site had been repurposed as a militant base, justifying its destruction. The Red Cross, however, warned that fuel shortages were crippling Gaza’s emergency services, with over half of Palestinian Red Crescent vehicles now inoperative.

Since the ceasefire ended on Tuesday, Hamas-run health officials claim nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed—figures that remain unverified. Israel insists it is targeting Hamas operatives and infrastructure while accusing the group of using civilians as human shields.

With the hostage crisis unresolved and fighting intensifying, the war shows no sign of abating. If Katz’s threat is carried out, the conflict could enter an even deadlier phase.