Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to Hamas on Monday, urging the terrorist organization to release all hostages and lay down its weapons. His statement came with a clear message that the IDF is preparing to expand ground operations aimed at decisively defeating Hamas in Gaza.
"Today a massive hurricane will strike over Gaza and the rooftops of the terror towers will tremble," Katz declared in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "This is a final warning to the murderers and rapists of Hamas in Gaza and in luxury hotels abroad: release the hostages and lay down your weapons, or Gaza will be destroyed and you will be eliminated. The IDF continues as planned and is preparing to expand the maneuver to bring about the defeat of Gaza."
Katz's comments came a day after US President Donald Trump presented the main points of a new American proposal for a hostage deal. The plan would cancel Israel's ground campaign to seize Gaza and instead launch negotiations to end the war.
Under the proposed terms, all hostages would be released on the first day of the agreement in exchange for the release of thousands of terrorists, including hundreds of convicted murderers.
