Israel warns Hamas it will seize more land in Gaza and maintain a ‘permanent’ presence unless hostages are freed

Hamas says it is considering the latest US ceasefire plan for Gaza and remains “fully engaged” in the mediation process as Israel vowed to escalate its renewed campaign in Gaza to pressure the militants into releasing hostages.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned Hamas that Israel will maintain a permanent presence in parts of Gaza unless the hostages in Gaza are released as Israel escalates a new offensive in the territory. The shaky ceasefire collapsed on Tuesday when Israel bombarded Gaza, shattering two months of calm that also saw dozens of hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. Katz said Friday that he’d instructed the Israeli military “to seize additional areas in Gaza, while evacuating the population, and to expand the security zones around Gaza in order to protect Israeli communities and IDF soldiers through permanent maintenance of the territory by Israel.” “The more Hamas continues its refusal to release the kidnapped, the more territory it will lose to Israel,” he added. It was unclear whether Katz meant the indefinite occupation of parts of Gaza. Katz’ comments came as Hamas said it was continuing contacts with mediators to try to re-establish the ceasefire that was in effect between January 19 and Tuesday. Katz said Israel was adhering to the proposal of President Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff for the release all the hostages, both living and dead, “in advance and in two stages with a ceasefire in between - without endangering Israeli security interests.”