FILE - WAFA
CAIRO – 21 March 2025: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened that his forces will seize and annex more territory in Gaza if Hamas does not release all the captives they still hold in the enclave.
Katz emphasized that if Hamas refuses to release the captives, Israeli forces will maintain “permanent Israeli control of the territory,” while “evacuating the population and expanding security zones around Gaza to protect Israeli communities and soldiers.”
Israeli officials’ threats have been flying in the air since Tel Aviv launched renewed airstrikes on Gaza early Tuesday, shattering a two-month ceasefire and killing hundreds of people since then.
On Wednesday, Katz directed a message to Gaza residents, urging them to “remove Hamas” and “return the hostages,” or face “total devastation.”
He warned in a video message on Twitter, “Soon, the evacuation of the population from combat zones will resume, and what follows will be far more severe—you will pay the full price.”
Israeli forces dropped leaflets in Gaza on Wednesday, urging people to leave voluntarily or face forced displacement, stating that “the world map will not change if all the people of Gaza vanish.”
The leaflets referenced US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, asserting that the plan “will force you to leave, whether you like it or not.”
The message also offered assistance to those willing to cooperate, stating, “We will not hesitate for a moment to help.”
It concluded with, “[To] whoever wishes to save themselves before it is too late, we are here and will remain until the Day of Resurrection.”
An Israeli airstrike on a United Nations headquarters in central Gaza City on Wednesday killed a foreign national and injured five other foreign UN workers, according to the Gaza health ministry#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps://t.co/fv0caY1OIw
— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) March 20, 2025
The US has expressed “full support to Israel and the [Israeli army] in the actions that they’ve taken in recent days.”
The Israeli attacks come after Trump threatened Hamas in March that there will be "hell to pay" if the captives are not released.
In addition to airstrikes, the Israeli military announced the resumption of ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip, extending to the Netzarim Corridor that bisects Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that Israeli forces will strike Hamas with "increasing force," stating that future ceasefire talks facilitated by mediators will "only take place under fire."
Hamas denied reports on Friday that it withdrew from ceasefire negotiations, including a possible prisoner swap.
The movement stated it has “responsibly and seriously” engaged with mediators regarding the proposal from US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff’s proposal reportedly aims to extend the ceasefire until after Ramadan and Passover in exchange for additional captive releases.
Hamas currently holds 59 captives in Gaza, including at least 22 believed to be alive.
Hamas has rejected proposals to extend the expired first phase of the ceasefire to allow for more captive releases without Israel committing to end the war.
Instead, Hamas has expressed readiness to transition to the second phase of the agreement, which includes a permanent end to the war, affirming its willingness to release all captives in one go in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
WITKOFF PROPOSAL
While Hamas says it is studying Witkoff’s proposal, Head of Hamas Abroad Khaled Mashal stated that the plan seeks to “extort Hamas.”
"The occupation seeks through this plan to extort Hamas by recovering prisoners from the first phase of the agreement, without addressing the requirements of the second phase related to sustainable calm and the complete withdrawal of the occupation from Gaza,” said Mashal in a statement released on Friday.
He noted that Israel wants to “negotiate with Hamas about Gaza's future, its governance, and its weapons, after being assured that the resistance had lost the leverage of the captives card.”
Mashal highlighted that during the talks, Hamas accepted Witkoff's plan on the condition that it be part of the second phase, which guarantees a lasting ceasefire, the entry of aid, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
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