Relatives of Gaza hostages strongly condemned on Saturday the Israeli government's decision to fully occupy Gaza city.

Their comment came during weekly statements for the press.

Zahiro Shahar Mor, nephew of hostage Avraham Munder, warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the families of hostages will hold him accountable in any way they can.

"We will pursue you....we will remind the people of Israel, day and night, that you could have secured a hostage deal, and you chose to have them killed," he said.

Israel said early Friday that it plans to take over Gaza City, drawing rejection from the Palestinians and international condemnation.

The decision, agreed in a late-night meeting of its security Cabinet, marks a further escalation of Israel's 22-month war with Hamas.

It also provoked worries in Israel over the fate of hostages still held by Hamas.

Another major ground operation would almost certainly exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe, in which Israel's air and ground war has pushed the territory toward famine.

Hamas said people in Gaza would “remain defiant against occupation.”