Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has directed the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to annex additional areas in Gaza.
This action comes as the Palestinian militant group Hamas continues to withhold the release of Israeli hostages, according to reports by AFP.
Katz emphasized that the refusal by Hamas to free hostages would result in the loss of more territory to Israel. “The more Hamas refuses to free the hostages, the more territory it will lose,” Katz was quoted as saying.
The Israeli military has reportedly intensified its offensive on Gaza through coordinated air, land, and sea operations. Evacuation orders have been issued for Palestinian civilians in the affected zones as the conflict escalates.
