GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning on Friday, stating that Gaza City could face destruction unless Hamas complies with Israel’s demands. This statement comes as Israel prepares for a significant military operation in the area. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced the authorization for a major offensive to seize Gaza City, which is considered Hamas’ military and administrative stronghold.

Katz emphasized the severity of the situation, saying Gaza City could “turn into Rafah and Beit Hanoun,” two areas that have already been devastated during the ongoing conflict. He declared, “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.” Israel’s conditions include the release of all hostages and the complete disarmament of Hamas.

Hamas has indicated a willingness to release captives in exchange for a cessation of hostilities but has rejected disarmament unless a Palestinian state is established. The anticipated military operation in Gaza City could commence within days, as ground troops are already active in strategic locations.

Gaza City is home to hundreds of thousands of civilians and contains critical infrastructure and health facilities. The city is also believed to be built over an extensive network of tunnels used by Hamas. Earlier this week, Hamas stated it had agreed to a ceasefire proposal from Arab mediators, which could potentially delay the Israeli offensive if accepted. However, direct negotiations between the parties have not occurred, and previous announcements of ceasefires have not materialized.

The proposed deal includes phased hostage and prisoner exchanges and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops while discussions for a longer-term ceasefire continue. Israeli leaders have been hesitant to accept such terms, especially after abandoning a similar agreement earlier this year due to internal divisions within Netanyahu’s coalition and strong opposition from right-wing factions.

Concerns are growing among Israelis that a military assault could jeopardize the lives of approximately 20 hostages believed to be alive since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Aid organizations and international leaders have warned that an escalation in military action would exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The challenges of evacuating civilians are significant. Many residents feel that repeated displacements are futile, as there are no safe areas in Gaza. Medical groups have criticized Israel’s calls for patients to move south, citing a lack of facilities to accommodate them. Despite these concerns, Netanyahu has maintained that the offensive is essential for both defeating Hamas and securing the release of hostages. “These two things — defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages — go hand in hand,” he stated during a visit to a command center in southern Israel.

As the conflict continues, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 62,192 Palestinians have died since the war began. The ministry, which operates under Hamas, has not specified whether those killed were civilians or combatants, but it claims that around half of the casualties are women and children. Israel disputes these figures but has not provided its own casualty estimates.