Israel?s defence minister says Gaza City will be destroyed if Hamas does not agree to disarm and release all hostages.

Israel Katz?s comments came after the Israeli cabinet approved plans for a massive assault on Gaza City, despite widespread international and domestic opposition.

On Monday, Hamas agreed to a proposal by Qatari and Egyptian mediators for a 60-day ceasefire, which according to Qatar would see the release of half of the remaining hostages in Gaza.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apparently rejected this, saying he had instructed negotiations to begin for the release of all remaining hostages and an end to the war in Gaza on terms ?acceptable to Israel?.

Israel believes that only 20 of the 50 hostages are still alive after 22 months of war.

Israeli media has cited an Israeli official as saying negotiators will be dispatched for renewed talks once a location has been determined.

In a video statement during a visit to the Gaza division?s headquarters in Israel on Thursday night, Netanyahu said he had ?instructed to immediately begin negotiations for the release of all our hostages?.

?I have come to approve the IDF?s [Israel Defense Forces] plans to take control of Gaza City and defeat Hamas,? he said.

?These two matters ? defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages ? go hand in hand,? Netanyahu added, without providing details about what the next stage of talks would entail.

Reinforcing Netanyahu?s message, Defence Minister Katz posted on social media on Friday: ?Soon, the gates of hell will open upon the heads of Hamas?s murderers and rapists in Gaza ? until they agree to Israel?s conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all hostages and their disarmament.

?If they do not agree, Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun,? he added.

Both cities have been reduced to ruins following Israeli military operations.

The IDF has warned medical officials and international organisations to prepare for the planned evacuation of Gaza City?s entire population of one million residents to shelters in the south before troops move in.

Gaza?s Hamas-run health ministry said it rejected ?any step that would undermine what remains of the health system?.

The UN has said intensifying attacks and ?relentless bombardment? in Gaza City are causing a ?high numbers of civilian casualties and large-scale destruction?. It and aid groups have vowed to stay to help those who cannot or choose not to move.

There are fears that the new military campaign in Gaza City will deepen the humanitarian crisis. The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said last month that the ?worst-case scenario of famine? was ?playing out in Gaza.?

Netanyahu announced Israel?s intention to take control of the entire Gaza Strip after indirect talks with Hamas on a ceasefire and hostage release deal broke down last month.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At least 62,192 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory?s health ministry. The ministry?s figures are quoted by the UN and others as the most reliable source of statistics available on casualties. (BBC)

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