Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to Hamas on Friday, stating that the "gates of hell" will open on the militant group if it does not agree to Israel's terms for a cease-fire. This threat follows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement that he would authorize a significant military operation to take control of Gaza City, Hamas's stronghold.

Katz emphasized the urgency of the situation in a post on X, declaring, "Soon, the gates of hell will open upon the heads of Hamas’s murderers and rapists in Gaza – until they agree to Israel’s conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all hostages and their disarmament." He further warned that if Hamas does not comply, Gaza City would be reduced to rubble, similar to the areas of Rafah and Beit Hanoun, which have already suffered extensive destruction.

The Israeli government is demanding the release of all hostages held by Hamas and the complete disarmament of the group as prerequisites for halting the ongoing conflict. In contrast, Hamas has indicated a willingness to release captives in exchange for an end to the nearly two-year-long war but has rejected disarmament unless a Palestinian state is established.

As tensions escalate, thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes due to the advancing Israeli tanks near Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are preparing for a large-scale operation, having called up an additional 60,000 reservists this week. Netanyahu has stated that his military strategy 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," Netanyahu said on Thursday. The situation remains fluid, with Hamas recently claiming it accepted a cease-fire proposal from Arab mediators. However, negotiations between the parties have not been direct, and previous announcements have not led to lasting cease-fires. The proposal includes a phased approach involving hostage exchanges and a withdrawal of Israeli troops while discussions for a longer-term cease-fire continue.