”The gates of hell will soon be opened for Hamas' murderers and rapists in Gaza", writes Katz on X.
He highlights the release of hostages and a complete disarmament of Hamas as Israel's main demands.
If they are not met, Gaza City will face the same fate as Rafah and Bayt Hanoun, Katz threatens – referring to two other cities on the Gaza Strip that the Israeli military has virtually razed to the ground.
Hamas said yes
The latest proposal for a ceasefire, which the Qatari and Egyptian mediators have put on the table, has however been ignored by Israel. Hamas said yes to the proposal on Monday, which is reported to mean a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of half of the remaining hostages in Gaza.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said instead on Thursday that he wants to see talks about an immediate release of all hostages and a ceasefire – but on Israel's terms. At the same time, Israel has announced this week that it is preparing an invasion of Gaza City, which has sparked sharp criticism from the outside world.
Criticism in Israel
The UN warns that an extended Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip would have catastrophic consequences for the area's already severely affected population.
Just on Friday morning, at least 30 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks around the Gaza Strip, according to hospital sources for Al Jazeera. Among the victims are three children who are reported to have been killed in an attack on a tent outside Gaza City.
The plans for escalation in Gaza are also being criticized in Israel, where many fear that an extended offensive means a death sentence for the approximately 20 hostages who are still believed to be alive.
