Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, warned in a social media post on 9/8, "Today, a hurricane will hit Gaza City. The roofs of high-rise buildings in the area will shake." Katz declared this would be the "final warning" for Hamas members in the Gaza Strip and living abroad.
"Release all hostages and lay down your weapons, or Gaza will be destroyed and you will be wiped out. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are continuing to implement their plan, and we are preparing to expand operations to neutralize Gaza," Katz added.
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Smoke rises after Israel bombed the al-Ruya building in Gaza City on 9/7. Photo: AFP |
Smoke rises after Israel bombed the al-Ruya building in Gaza City on 9/7. Photo: AFP
Hamas has not yet responded to Katz's statement. Israel is preparing for a major offensive to fully occupy Gaza City, the largest city in the Gaza Strip. The IDF is intensifying airstrikes and conducting ground operations on the outskirts of the city, raising fears of a worsening humanitarian situation. The IDF has been targeting a high-rise building in Gaza each day, claiming they are "Hamas bases."
On 9/7, US President Donald Trump said he had issued an ultimatum to Hamas, demanding they accept a deal to release hostages held in the Gaza Strip. Hamas later said they were "ready to immediately sit down at the negotiating table" after the US presented some ideas for a ceasefire agreement.
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Location of Gaza City. Graphic: AFP |
Location of Gaza City. Graphic: AFP
Hamas's 7/10/2023 attack on southern Israel killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians. Of the 251 hostages taken, 47 remain held in Gaza, with about 20 believed to be alive. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials.
Last month, Hamas agreed to a proposed timed ceasefire and the phased release of hostages. However, Israel demands the immediate release of all hostages, the laying down of arms, relinquishing control of the Gaza Strip, and several other conditions.
Huyen Le (AFP, Times of Israel)
