Tanks were seen at the Israeli-Gaza border on Sunday after Israel's defense minister warned that Gaza’s largest city could be destroyed unless Hamas yields to his country’s terms.

Israel Katz spoke Friday, the same day that the world’s leading authority on food crises said that Gaza City is gripped by famine from fighting and an Israeli blockade.

A day earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would authorise the military to mount a major operation to seize Gaza City.

Katz restated Israel’s ceasefire demands for the release of all hostages and Hamas’ complete disarmament.

Hamas has said it would release captives in exchange for ending the war, but the militant group rejects disarmament without the creation of a Palestinian state.

With ground troops already active in strategic areas, the wide-scale operation in Gaza City could start within days.

Israel says Gaza City is still a Hamas stronghold, with a network of militant tunnels, after several previous large-scale raids.

The city is also home to hundreds of thousands of civilians, some of whom have fled from other areas, and it contains some of the territory's critical infrastructure and health facilities.

Israel could also accept the latest ceasefire proposal, which would forestall the offensive.

The proposal calls for a phased deal involving hostage and prisoner exchanges and a pullback of Israeli troops, while talks continue on a longer-term cease-fire.

Israeli leaders have resisted such terms since abandoning a similar agreement earlier this year under pressure from Netanyahu's far-right coalition allies.

Many Israelis fear an assault could doom the roughly 20 hostages who have survived captivity since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

Aid groups and international leaders warn that renewed fighting would worsen Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.

AP video shot by Alon Bernstein