Israel’s Defense Minister Threatens Escalated Attacks on Gaza

Kokcha News Agency – Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz has escalated tensions in Gaza by threatening severe military action against the city. In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Katz announced that the Israeli army is preparing to launch new attacks on multi-story buildings and other structures in Gaza.

Katz issued a direct ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the release of Israeli prisoners and the surrender of weapons, warning, “Otherwise, Gaza and you will be destroyed.”

The Israeli military has already caused significant destruction in Gaza, with reports indicating that 50 buildings were completely destroyed and 100 others partially damaged in recent attacks. Katz confirmed that the army is preparing to expand its operations, signaling a potential increase in violence.

This comes after the Israeli Security Cabinet approved a plan on August 8 to occupy Gaza City, located in the northern part of the region. The plan involves displacing approximately 1 million Palestinians to the south, besieging the city, and launching intense attacks before proceeding with the occupation.

In the second phase of the plan, the Israeli military aims to occupy refugee camps in the heavily devastated city center of Gaza. Over the past three days, Israel has been deliberately targeting multi-story buildings where Palestinians reside, destroying structures such as the “Mushtaha,” “Al-Susi,” and “Al-Ru’ya” buildings.

These attacks not only destroy the targeted buildings but also cause collateral damage to surrounding tents and structures, forcing Palestinians to flee south. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a weekly cabinet meeting, confirmed that the military would intensify its operations to occupy Gaza and forcibly displace 100,000 Palestinians from the city.