Smoke billows into the sky following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza amid escalating conflict (Reuters)
The conflict in Gaza enters a fresh and perilous phase with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, having pronounced, on Friday, the outright destruction of Gaza City should Hamas refuse to accept Israel's terms, heralding a soon violent offensive escalation.
Such comments stem from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declaring a day earlier that he had authorized the army to prepare for a ground seizure of Gaza's largest city.
In a strongly worded statement posted on X, Katz cautioned that "the gates of hell will soon open on the heads of Hamas'' murderers and rapists in Gaza until they agree to Israel's conditions for ending the war."
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He suggested that Gaza City's fate would be that of Rafah and Beit Hanoun, already at the receiving end of devastation due to months-long conflict. Katz maintained that Israel's cease-fire demands are not open to negotiation: immediate release of all hostages and total disarmament of Hamas.
Hamas, however, has shown little tendency to yield to Israel's conditions. Even though the group declared it was ready to retain hostages until a lasting cease-fire is reached, it rejected any suggestion for its weapons to be tied to the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state.
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The impasse is a continuing reminder of the bitter political and ideological divide that drives the war while trapping civilians in Gaza in a humanitarian catastrophe.
The threat on Gaza City has suddenly raised serious concerns over the impact of the planned offensive on the humanitarian status in Israel. One of the densest cities worldwide, Gaza City has already incurred extensive destruction due to constant strikes. If Katz's specific threats come true, the destruction could equate to or exceed what has been seen in Rafah and Beit Hanoun, sending the region deeper into crisis.
This latest position by Israel makes it clear that the country plans to exert military pressure until such time as its aims are achieved, while Hamas continues to stand firm against disarmament under these terms. Both sides thus find themselves in the same position of non-compromise. What takes place in Gaza City may therefore not only change the face of the war but also determine the overall path of the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
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