Friday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed to seize sections of Gaza unless Hamas releases the remaining Israeli prisoners.
The warning came as Israel intensified its Tuesday attack, shattering the relative calm since a Jan. 19 ceasefire.
Palestinian civil defense agency: Israeli strikes killed 11 individuals on Friday, three pre-dawn and eight daytime.
On Thursday, it reported 504 deaths since the shelling resumed, one of the biggest since October 2023.
“I ordered the army to seize more territory in Gaza… Katz stated that Hamas will lose territory to Israel if it refuses to release hostages.
Katz threatened “to expand buffer zones around Gaza to protect Israeli civilian population and soldiers by implementing a permanent Israeli occupation of the area” if Hamas did not comply.
On Friday, the Israeli military advised southern Gaza residents in Al Salatin, Al Karama, and Al Awda to evacuate before a strike.
“For your safety, head south toward the known shelters immediately,” Israeli military spokeswoman Avichay Adraee wrote on X. Residents evacuated their homes along rubble-strewn roads in northern Gaza on donkey carts full of possessions.
‘Bridge idea
As Israel expanded military operations to liberate remaining Israeli captives, Hamas said Friday it was evaluating a US proposal to restore the Gaza ceasefire.
Last Monday, US special envoy Steve Witkoff proposed extending the truce beyond Ramazan and Passover until April to enable for permanent ceasefire negotiations.
Hamas claimed it was still discussing Witkoff’s suggestion and other ideas to stop the fighting, release prisoners, and evacuate Israeli troops from Gaza.
A Palestinian official said Egypt had proposed bridging but Hamas has not responded. The person claimed the concept was under consideration but would not elaborate.
Two Egyptian security sources said Egypt had proposed releasing the remaining inmates alongside a date for a full Israeli pullout from Gaza with US guarantees.
The sources stated the US had given initial approval and Hamas and Israel would respond quickly.
Pressure points
Tuesday saw Israel restart intense bombing of Gaza, alleging impasse in indirect negotiations on the truce’s future steps after its first stage ended early this month.
It resumed large-scale military operations with US President Donald Trump’s administration, but was widely criticized.
Turkey denounced Israel’s attack on a Turkish-built Gaza hospital. “We strongly condemn the destruction by Israel of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital,” its foreign ministry declared.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called Qatar’s ruler, a mediator of the January ceasefire, to voice “concern” over the new Israeli attack.
In a video message on Thursday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said it was “unthinkable to resume fighting while still pursuing the sacred mission of bringing our hostages (prisoners) home”.
