Israel orders army to 'seize additional territories' in Gaza

Israel's Defense Minister stated that if Hamas does not release all remaining hostages, the Israeli military will be instructed to "occupy more areas of Gaza," and threatened a permanent occupation of parts of the territory. Israeli Defense Minister Katz emphasized that the Israeli army will continue its ground operations in Gaza "with increasing intensity" until all hostages, "dead or alive," are released, indicating a firm stance on the hostage situation.

It is believed that 24 of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza are alive. The fate of these hostages remains uncertain as negotiations on the second phase of a ceasefire agreement have failed to make progress. The fragile ceasefire agreement, which had been in effect since January, ended this week, and Israel resumed ground operations and bombing in Gaza, resulting in hundreds of deaths, further complicating the already dire situation.

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," with "absolutely desperate tragedies" occurring throughout Gaza. Israel and the United States have accused Hamas of rejecting proposals to extend the ceasefire, while Hamas stated that it is "engaging with the mediators with full responsibility and seriousness," highlighting the conflicting narratives surrounding the failed negotiations.

Katz said in a statement on Friday that "Hamas continues to refuse, Israel will take more territory." He added that Israel remains in agreement with the proposal presented by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff for "an early release of all abductees, dead or alive, in two phases, with a ceasefire between the two phases." "We will intensify air, sea, and land strikes, and expand the ground operation, until the hostages are released and Hamas is defeated," Katz wrote, outlining a strategy of increased military pressure.

Katz also stated that Israel will "implement U.S. President Trump's plan for the voluntary transfer of Gaza residents." Trump has indicated that he wants the U.S. to take over and rebuild the Gaza Strip while permanently removing its 2 million Palestinian residents. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas have stated that Gaza is "not for sale," while the UN has warned that any forced displacement of civilians from occupied territory is strictly prohibited under international law and "amounts to ethnic cleansing," raising serious concerns about potential human rights violations.

A three-phase ceasefire agreement was proposed after months of negotiations led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. Israel and Hamas failed to agree on how to advance the truce agreement beyond the first phase. The plan stalled when the U.S. and Israel proposed extending the first phase, which Hamas rejected, stating that it was a "blatant attempt by Israel to evade the agreement," revealing deep distrust and conflicting priorities.

On Tuesday, Israel launched heavy airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, resulting in over 430 deaths in two days, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry, marking a breakdown of the ceasefire agreement. On Thursday, Hamas fired three rockets at Tel Aviv. Israeli government spokesman David Mencer accused Hamas of resuming violence, stating that the group "rejected every hostage deal." Israel says Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, reinforcing the urgency and complexity of the situation.

Acting U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Dorothy Shea explicitly blamed Hamas for the continued war and the resumption of fighting at the UN Security Council on Friday. "All of the deaths could have been avoided if Hamas had accepted the bridging proposal," Shea told the UN Security Council. Hamas denied responsibility for the stalled negotiations, stating that it "remains deeply engaged" and is "engaging with the mediators with full responsibility and seriousness," continuing the back-and-forth accusations.

Hamas wrote in a Telegram statement that it is discussing "the Witkoff proposal and other different ideas, all of which aim to ensure the conclusion of a prisoner exchange deal to ensure the release of prisoners, end the war, and achieve the withdrawal (of Israeli forces) from the Gaza Strip." Katz also stated in his statement that civilians will be evacuated from areas where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are fighting, aiming to minimize civilian casualties during military operations.

Previous evacuation orders have sparked panic among Palestinian families, many of whom have been displaced multiple times by the war and have few other safe options. In an effort to put pressure on Hamas, Israel blocked all food, fuel, and medical supplies from entering Gaza in early March. It accused Hamas of requisitioning the supplies to fight Israel, but provided no evidence to support the claim, raising concerns about collective punishment and humanitarian access.

The Israeli military launched an operation to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 people being taken hostage. The Hamas-controlled health ministry says that more than 49,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since then, with widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure throughout the Gaza Strip, highlighting the devastating consequences of the ongoing conflict.