Israel’s defense minister said that unless the hostages are released, Israel will maintain “permanent existence” in Gaza. World News
CNN reported that Israeli Defense Minister Katz warned that Hamas will be permanently present in parts of Gaza unless the Gaza hostages are released.
The swinging ceasefire collapsed on Tuesday when Israel bombed Gaza, breaking the two-month tranquility, which also saw dozens of hostages for Palestinian prisoners to exchange, such as CNN.
Kaz said on Friday that he directed the Israeli military to “occupy other areas of Gaza while evacuating the population and expand the security zone near Gaza to protect Israeli communities and IDF soldiers through permanent maintenance by Israel.”
“Hamas continues to refuse to release the kidnappers, the more it will lose Israel’s territory,” CNN reported.
Katz’s comments were posted in Hamas that it is continuing its engagement with mediators in an attempt to re-establish a ceasefire that will take effect between January 19 and Tuesday.
Katz said Israel complies with the proposal made by U.S. President Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to release all hostages, including life and death, “early and both stages are in two stages and a ceasefire between the two – without endangering Israel’s security interests.”
Hamas said in a statement Friday that it is continuing to consider the proposals of U.S. Special Envoy of the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who suggested extending the first phase of the ceasefire deal until early April, such as CNN. It reiterated the need for a permanent end to war, saying it explores “the ways in which various ideas on the table are designed to reach a prisoner exchange agreement to ensure the release of detainees, end the war and ensure evacuation.”
CNN reported that last week’s proposal from Witkoff would ensure the release of a handful of living hostages held by Hamas in exchange for an extended Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Of the 59 hostages still in Gaza, people still believe that less than half are still alive.
