Israel orders army to 'seize additional territories' in Gaza

The Israeli Defense Minister has instructed the military to "occupy more areas of the Gaza Strip" and threatened to permanently occupy parts of the territory if Hamas does not release all remaining hostages. This move by Israel indicates a firm stance on the hostage issue, not ruling out the possibility of further military action. The international community is closely watching these developments, urging restraint and a focus on diplomatic solutions.

Israel Katz stated that the military will continue its ground operations in the Gaza Strip "with increasing intensity" until all hostages are returned "dead or alive." Currently, it is believed that 59 hostages remain held in Gaza, 24 of whom are still alive, but their fate remains uncertain due to the stalled negotiations for a second-phase ceasefire agreement. The lack of progress in these negotiations is causing growing concern for the hostages' well-being.

The fragile ceasefire implemented since January ended this week, and Israel resumed ground operations and bombings in Gaza, resulting in hundreds of deaths. Sam Rose of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) described the situation in the Gaza Strip as "extremely worrying" and stated that "an absolute tragedy of despair is unfolding across Gaza." The international community is calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and increased humanitarian aid to address the dire situation.

Israel and the United States have accused Hamas of rejecting proposals to extend the ceasefire. Hamas stated that it is "engaging with mediators with full responsibility and seriousness." However, Katz said in a statement on Friday that "Hamas continues to refuse, it will lose more territory to Israel." Katz also added that Israel remains in agreement with the proposal presented by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff for the "early release of all abductees, dead or alive, in two stages, with a ceasefire in between." This disagreement highlights the deep divide between the two sides and the challenges in reaching a lasting agreement.

Katz stated in a statement: "We will intensify the fighting with air strikes, sea strikes, and land strikes, and by expanding the ground operation, until the hostages are released and Hamas is defeated." The Defense Minister also stated that Israel will "implement the voluntary transfer plan for Gaza residents formulated by U.S. President Trump." Trump wants the U.S. to take over and rebuild the Gaza Strip while permanently removing its 2 million Palestinian population. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas have stated that Gaza is "not for sale," while the United Nations has warned that any forced displacement of civilians from occupied territory is strictly prohibited under international law and "amounts to ethnic cleansing." Such proposals have drawn strong condemnation from various international organizations and human rights groups.

After months of negotiations led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, a ceasefire agreement presented in three phases was reached. Israel and Hamas failed to agree on how to extend the truce beyond the first phase. The plan stalled when the U.S. and Israel proposed extending the first phase. Hamas rejected this change, stating that it was an "obvious attempt by Israel to evade the agreement." On Tuesday, Israel launched heavy air strikes on the Gaza Strip, breaking the ceasefire agreement, and the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health stated that more than 430 people had been killed in two days. On Thursday, Hamas fired three rockets at Tel Aviv. The breakdown of the ceasefire has led to a renewed escalation of violence and further suffering for the civilian population.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer accused Hamas of resuming violence, stating that the group "rejected every hostage deal." Israel stated that Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be still alive. U.S. Acting Ambassador to the United Nations Dorothy Shea explicitly blamed Hamas for the ongoing war and the resumption of fighting at the UN Security Council on Friday. "Every death could have been avoided if Hamas had accepted the bridge proposal." The conflicting narratives highlight the difficulty in assigning blame and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution.

Hamas denied responsibility for the stalled negotiations, stating that it is "still deeply involved" and is "engaging with mediators with full responsibility and seriousness." Hamas wrote in a Telegram statement that it is discussing the "Witkoff proposal and other different ideas, all of which are aimed at ensuring a prisoner exchange agreement to ensure the release of prisoners, end the war, and achieve (the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip)." These statements suggest that Hamas remains open to negotiations, but significant obstacles remain in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.

Katz also stated in his statement that civilians will be evacuated from areas being targeted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Previous evacuation orders have caused panic among Palestinian families, many of whom have been displaced multiple times due to the war and have few safe options. In an effort to pressure Hamas, Israel blocked all food, fuel, and medical supplies from entering Gaza in early March. It accused Hamas of diverting these supplies as part of its strategy against Israel, but provided no evidence for this. These actions have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and raised concerns about collective punishment.

In response to the unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military launched an operation to destroy Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 people as hostages. The Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health stated that more than 49,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since then, and there has been massive destruction of homes and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. The ongoing conflict has had a devastating impact on the region, causing immense suffering and displacement.