Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz announced today that he has ordered the military “to seize more land in Gaza,” which could, he said, “be annexed” to Israel if Hamas does not release the hostages held in the Palestinian enclave.

“I have instructed the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) to seize more land in Gaza by removing the residents and expanding the security zones (along the internal borders) of Gaza to protect Israeli communities,” Katz noted in a statement.

“As long as Hamas continues to refuse to release the hostages, the more land it will lose, which will be annexed to Israel,” emphasized the Israeli minister.

The “security zones” Katz referred to are a reference to the creation of a “security strip” desired by some Israeli security officials, mainly in the northern part of Gaza, in order to create a protection zone between the Palestinian enclave and the Israeli communities it borders.

“If the terrorist organization Hamas refuses to release the hostages, I have ordered the IDF to seize more land… ensuring the permanent possession of the land by Israel,” Katz threatened.

“We are intensifying the battle with air, sea, and ground strikes, as well as expanding the ground operation until the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas, using all means of pressure, military and non-military, including the relocation of the Gaza population southward and the implementation of President Trump’s voluntary relocation plan for Gaza’s residents,” explained the Israeli Defense Minister.

Earlier this week, Israel broke the ceasefire it had agreed with Hamas by resuming bombings in the Gaza Strip, where it later sent ground forces.

Meanwhile, Hamas announced today that it is still discussing U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s proposal and other ideas aimed at reaching an agreement for the release of hostages, ending the war in Gaza, and removing Israeli troops from the Palestinian enclave.

Witkoff presented a plan last week for extending the first phase of the ceasefire, which Israel and Hamas agreed to and went into effect on January 19. This plan offered a bridge to April, after Ramadan and Passover, to allow time for negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire and the final end of the conflict.