Israel Orders IDF to Seize More Gaza Territory if Hostages Remain Captive

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has issued a direct order to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF): seize more territory in Gaza if Hamas continues to hold out on releasing hostages. This bold directive comes in the wake of a resumed military campaign in Gaza, following a two-month ceasefire that saw 33 hostages freed.

In a statement, Katz did not mince words. "If the terrorist organization Hamas continues to refuse to release the hostages, I have instructed the IDF to seize additional territories, while evacuating the population, and to expand the security zones around Gaza for the benefit of protecting Israeli communities and IDF soldiers, through permanent Israeli control of the territory," he said. Katz added that for every refusal from Hamas, Israel would annex more territory, effectively rewriting Gaza's geopolitical map.

If Israel acts on Katz’s threat, it would mark the most significant territorial shift in Gaza since the 2005 withdrawal. That year, Israel evacuated the region, forcibly removing Israelis from their homes. A year later, Hamas took control, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Operation "Strength and Sword" remains in full swing, with Katz emphasizing its intensifying pace until the hostages are released. He also voiced support for a U.S.-backed proposal by Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, designed to retrieve both living and deceased hostages from Gaza in two phases.

The Trump administration has thrown its weight behind Israel, adopting a markedly different tone compared to the Biden administration, which balanced its support for Israel with calls to minimize civilian casualties. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated President Donald Trump's firm stance, saying he "fully supports Israel and the IDF in the actions that they’ve taken in recent days." Trump’s previous warning to Hamas—that there would be "hell to pay" if hostages were not released—seems to have set the tone for current U.S.-Israel relations.

NSC Spokesman James Hewitt also chimed in, blaming Hamas squarely for the resumption of hostilities. "These terrorists bear total responsibility for this conflict and the resumption of hostilities. Every death would have and could have been avoided had Hamas accepted the 'bridge' proposal Special Envoy Witkoff offered last week," Hewitt remarked.

Meanwhile, Israel finds itself grappling with internal friction. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Friday that a vote to dismiss Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar had passed. Netanyahu reportedly claimed that Bar was untrustworthy—a sentiment Bar dismissed as baseless in a letter circulated by the Shin Bet. Adding to the drama, Israel's Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction against Bar's dismissal, pending petitions.

As tensions soar both in Gaza and within Israel, the unfolding events promise to have far-reaching consequences for regional stability—and perhaps even global diplomacy.