Israel has warned that Gaza City will face complete destruction if Hamas refuses to disarm and release all hostages. Defence Minister Israel Katz delivered this threat as the government approved a large-scale assault on the city, intensifying fears of an even greater humanitarian catastrophe.
Israel’s stance hardens
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had received approval to seize control of Gaza City. He linked the operation directly to Israel’s goal of freeing all remaining hostages. Netanyahu said defeating Hamas and securing the hostages “go hand in hand.”
During a visit to the Gaza division’s headquarters, Netanyahu stressed that negotiations would continue but only under terms acceptable to Israel. He dismissed Hamas’s recent acceptance of a Qatari- and Egyptian-brokered ceasefire plan that proposed a 60-day truce and the release of half the hostages.
Israel believes that of the 50 hostages still held in Gaza, only 20 remain alive after nearly two years of conflict.
Defence minister issues warning
Defence Minister Katz reinforced Netanyahu’s message in a strong statement on social media. He warned that “the gates of hell will open upon Hamas” unless the group accepts Israel’s conditions. Katz said the terms include the release of all hostages and the full disarmament of Hamas fighters.
He added that if Hamas does not comply, Gaza City would meet the same fate as Rafah and Beit Hanoun, two urban centers already reduced to ruins by Israeli military operations.
Evacuation plans underway
The IDF has ordered preparations for the evacuation of Gaza City’s one million residents. Medical officials and international organisations were told to prepare for mass movement of civilians to southern shelters before Israeli forces advance.
Read: UN Declares Full-Blown Famine in Gaza Despite Israeli Denials
However, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry rejected any evacuation plan, warning that it would destroy what remains of the fragile health system. Hospitals are already overwhelmed, with limited supplies and thousands of injured civilians.
The United Nations has also raised alarm over the planned assault. It reported that relentless bombardment in Gaza City is already causing “high numbers of civilian casualties and large-scale destruction.” Aid agencies have vowed to remain to help those unable or unwilling to leave.
Humanitarian fears escalate
The looming military campaign threatens to push Gaza deeper into crisis. The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warned last month that famine conditions are unfolding. With food and medical aid already scarce, another mass displacement could prove catastrophic.
International aid groups argue that forcing one million people to evacuate under heavy bombardment is nearly impossible. Many families have already fled multiple times since the start of the war, only to find themselves displaced again as fighting spreads.
Background of the conflict
The current war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters launched a deadly attack on southern Israel. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. In response, Israel began a sustained military campaign across Gaza, pledging to dismantle Hamas completely.
Since then, Gaza has suffered relentless air strikes and ground operations. The health ministry in Gaza reports that at least 62,192 people have been killed. The UN and other agencies regard these figures as the most reliable source of civilian casualty data.
Breakdown in talks
Earlier indirect negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, failed to secure a lasting truce. Hamas’s latest offer of a 60-day ceasefire was quickly dismissed by Israel, which demands the release of all hostages and an end to Hamas’s military capability.
Netanyahu has now declared Israel’s intention to take full control of the Gaza Strip. This marks a shift from limited operations to a broader goal of reshaping the territory’s political and security landscape.
International and domestic pressure
Despite growing opposition abroad and at home, Israel’s leadership insists that only military pressure will force Hamas to concede. Critics warn that continued bombardment risks deepening Gaza’s humanitarian disaster and isolating Israel diplomatically.
Yet Netanyahu and Katz remain firm. They argue that military dominance and hostage recovery are inseparable objectives. For them, Gaza City represents both the stronghold of Hamas and the key to ending the conflict on Israel’s terms.
A city on edge
For the residents of Gaza City, the coming days bring uncertainty and fear. With evacuation orders looming and aid stretched thin, families face a stark choice: flee south under fire or remain in a city bracing for invasion.
As Israel prepares for a decisive assault, the fate of Gaza City — and the millions who depend on it — hangs in the balance. The world watches as negotiations falter and the threat of destruction grows louder.
Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook,, X and TikTok for latest updates