Israel's Defense Minister Calls for Expansion of Military Operations in Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has announced an intensification of military operations in Gaza, threatening to permanently occupy additional territories if Hamas fails to release remaining hostages. Despite a brief ceasefire, the situation remains grave, with both sides blaming each other for the renewed violence.

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the military to seize additional territories in Gaza, with the possibility of a permanent occupation if Hamas continues to withhold the release of all remaining hostages. Katz warned that military operations in Gaza would escalate "with increasing intensity" until both living and deceased hostages are returned.

Currently, 24 of the 59 hostages believed to be held by Hamas are still alive, but their situation remains precarious following stalled negotiations on the second phase of a ceasefire agreement. The already fragile ceasefire, established since January, collapsed this week when Israel resumed its ground offensive and airstrikes in Gaza, resulting in hundreds of casualties. UN officials have described the humanitarian crisis in the region as "gravely concerning" and indicative of "desperate tragedies."

The Israeli government and the United States accused Hamas of rejecting proposals to extend the ceasefire. In contrast, Hamas has claimed it is engaging seriously with mediators. Katz emphasized that the more Hamas resists, the more territory it would lose to Israeli forces. Meanwhile, he noted that Israel remains amenable to a proposal by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, which seeks to facilitate the release of all kidnapped individuals through a structured ceasefire.

Escalating military action is predicted, with air, sea, and land strikes to continue until the hostages are freed and Hamas is reportedly defeated. Moreover, Katz mentioned the implementation of a proposal by former President Trump to relocate Gaza's resident population. Palestinians, backed by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, reject these plans, emphasizing that Gaza is "not for sale," while the UN stresses that any forced civilian displacement is prohibited under international law.

Months of intricate negotiations involving the US, Qatar, and Egypt aimed to establish a ceasefire in three phases, but progress was halted when Israel and the US proposed alterations that Hamas viewed as deceptive attempts to evade the original terms. Following the breakdown of talks, a recent wave of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza was launched, leaving over 430 people dead within just two days, according to Palestinian health authorities.

As tensions continue to rise, David Mencer, a spokesman for the Israeli government, accused Hamas of resisting negotiations for a hostage exchange. Meanwhile, the acting U.S. ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, attributed the ongoing conflict to Hamas' refusal to cooperate.

Hamas has publicly argued that it continues to engage meaningfully on issues related to the ongoing negotiations while calling for an end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops. Katz further stated that evacuation measures would be put in place for civilians in targeted regions, though past orders have caused panic among displaced Palestinians who have little safe refuge remaining.

Originally launched in response to a tragic cross-border attack on October 7, which killed approximately 1,200 people and left 251 hostages taken, the Israeli military campaign against Hamas has resulted in over 49,500 Palestinian deaths in Gaza to date, according to local health officials, alongside severe destruction to homes and vital infrastructure.