Israel threatens permanent control of Gaza if Hamas doesn’t free remaining hostages

Israel will permanently seize parts of the Gaza Strip if Hamas doesn’t release the remaining hostages soon, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday — as he threatened to only intensify its onslaught of air, land and sea strikes.

The defense minister said he had already ordered Israeli ground forces to advance even deeper into Gaza, vowing the attacks would continue “with increasing intensity” until the hostages are released and Hamas was totally defeated.

“The more Hamas continues its refusal to release the kidnapped, the more territory it will lose to Israel,” Katz declared as he ramped up pressure on the terror group just days after shattering its two-month cease-fire.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday he had already ordered Israeli ground forces to advance even deeper into Gaza. ZUMAPRESS.com

After retaking part of the strategic Netzarim corridor that divides Gaza’s north from south earlier this week, Israeli troops moved Thursday toward the northern town of Beit Lahiya and the southern border city of Rafah.

The military said it had also resumed enforcing a blockade on northern Gaza, including Gaza City.

A slew of Israeli airstrikes inflicted serious damage on Hamas this week, killing its Gaza government chief and other top officials. On Tuesday, more than 400 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Meanwhile, Hamas said Friday it was still debating a US proposal to restore the cease-fire.

On Tuesday, more than 400 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes, according to Gaza’s health ministry. AFP via Getty Images

US special envoy Steve Witkoff’s “bridge” plan, which was laid out last week, aims to extend the cease-fire through April — beyond Ramadan and Passover — to allow for negotiations on a permanent break in hostilities.

The developments come after Israel’s Defense Force renewed its campaign to wipe out Hamas with a surprise bombardment of Gaza earlier this week.

Israel blamed the renewed fighting on Hamas’ refusal to accept the US-backed deal.

Hamas, for its part, has said it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting cease-fire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Still, the US — which has repeatedly said it fully supports Israel — told the UN Security Council that Hamas was to blame for the deaths since the hostilities resumed earlier this week.

“Hamas bears full responsibility for the ongoing war in Gaza and for the resumption of hostilities. Every death would have been avoided had Hamas accepted the bridge proposal that the United States offered last Wednesday,” acting US ambassador Dorothy Shea told the council.

Of the more than 250 hostages originally seized in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terror attack, 59 remain in Gaza — 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

With Post wires