The Israeli defense minister intensified pressure on Hamas on Friday, urging the armed Palestinian group to release more hostages. He indicated that Israel is prepared to expand its military operations in Gaza, including seizing additional territory and increasing attacks by air, sea, and land if Hamas does not comply.
These statements from Defense Minister Israel Katz followed the breakdown of a cease-fire that had lasted over two months, with renewed Israeli bombardment and limited ground operations in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that over 500 Palestinians have been killed since the resumption of Israeli attacks on Tuesday, without distinguishing between civilians and combatants.
Katz warned that Hamas would lose more territory if it continued to refuse to release hostages, stating that the Israeli military could expand its security zone in Gaza and mandate further evacuations of Palestinian homes. He noted that any captured territory would be held by Israel indefinitely.
On Friday, there were no immediate reports of new Israeli attacks resulting in heavy casualties in Gaza, as mediators continued efforts to prevent the escalation of violence from escalating into a full-scale war.
Hamas announced that negotiations to restore the truce, which began in mid-January, were ongoing. However, the group reiterated that any agreement for the release of more hostages must lead to a permanent end to the conflict, a commitment Israel has been hesitant to make while Hamas remains in control of Gaza.
In Israel, political turmoil surrounding the war in Gaza escalated this week following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to dismiss Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet intelligence service. Protesters accused Netanyahu of attempting to purge the security establishment of perceived disloyalty.
On Friday, Israel’s Supreme Court issued an injunction to freeze Bar’s dismissal until it could hear petitions against the decision, with a ruling expected by April 8. Netanyahu's allies criticized the court's intervention as judicial overreach, and it remains unclear whether he would uphold a ruling against the dismissal.
Israeli forces have conducted extensive bombardments across Gaza, targeting Hamas sites and operatives. Ground troops have regained control of a significant corridor in central Gaza and expanded operations in both northern and southern regions.
Hamas's military response has been limited, with its capabilities reportedly diminished by the ongoing conflict. Despite this, the group is believed to still have tens of thousands of armed fighters. Recently, Hamas launched three rockets at Israel, but they were either intercepted or fell without causing casualties.
Israel aims to compel Hamas to release more hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack that initiated the current conflict. The Israeli government states that as many as 24 living captives and the remains of over 30 others are still held in Gaza.
Prior to the cease-fire's collapse, Israel had already blocked humanitarian aid to Gaza, hindering the delivery of food and medical supplies to Palestinians suffering from prolonged deprivation.
In the latest military actions, Israeli troops have not conducted mass sweeps through Palestinian cities in Gaza or forcibly evacuated northern Gaza, as seen during previous campaigns against Hamas.
Israel has declared that it will not conclude the war in Gaza without the destruction of Hamas. While Hamas has expressed willingness to transfer civilian responsibilities in the enclave, it has refused to disband its armed factions or exile its leaders.
Diplomatic efforts, including those from the United States, are underway to negotiate a partial agreement that would restore the cease-fire, facilitate the release of more hostages, and allow humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza.
Before the recent escalation, a proposal from Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Mideast envoy, suggested extending the initial cease-fire in exchange for the release of hostages. Israel accepted this plan, which aligned with its demands for more hostages without an immediate commitment to end the war permanently. Hamas has not yet agreed to the proposal but indicated it was considering it.
In a recent interview, senior Hamas official Husam Badran suggested the group might show flexibility regarding the agreement, potentially facilitating the release of more hostages to initiate negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. “The problem isn’t the numbers,” Badran stated, emphasizing a positive approach to any proposal that could lead to discussions for a permanent truce.