Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his cabinet has approved plans for a new large-scale military offensive in Gaza City, a move that could displace hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that the operation aims to “defeat Hamas in Gaza”, stressing that the military is preparing to invade Gaza City.
“The gates of hell will soon open for Hamas murderers and rapists in Gaza,” Katz wrote on social platform X.
He further warned:
“We will destroy Gaza City if Hamas does not surrender its weapons and release all hostages.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations has raised alarm, warning that Israel’s intensified strikes and “relentless bombardments” are causing “a large number of civilian casualties and widespread destruction.”
The escalation comes as Netanyahu confirmed that Israel is also entering talks for the release of hostages held in Gaza, following Hamas’s acceptance of a new ceasefire proposal brokered by mediators.
At the same time, the UN issued a grave statement confirming that deaths from famine have now occurred in Gaza, an act it described as a war crime under international law.
