Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warns of a renewed military assault on Gaza if Hamas fails to comply with the fragile ceasefire, ordering the army to prepare a “plan to crush” the Palestinian group.
Renewed Threats Amid Fragile Ceasefire
Tensions in the Middle East have reignited after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to resume the Gaza offensive if Hamas does not uphold the terms of the ongoing ceasefire agreement. In a stark statement released Wednesday, Katz said he had instructed the Israeli military to develop a “plan to crush Hamas”, signalling a potential return to large-scale violence in the enclave.
“If Hamas refuses to comply with the agreement, Israel, in coordination with the United States, will resume fighting and act to achieve a total defeat of Hamas, to change the reality in Gaza and achieve all the objectives of the war,” Katz’s office declared.
Coordination with Washington and Tunnel Demolitions
The Defence Minister added that Israel would cooperate with a US-led international coalition to destroy Hamas’s extensive tunnel infrastructure across Gaza, describing their elimination as a “key military priority.” This initiative mirrors long-standing Israeli objectives to dismantle the underground network used by Palestinian resistance fighters for logistics and protection during bombardments.
According to Katz, coordination with Washington will remain crucial to “ensuring the stability of any future security arrangement in Gaza” — a statement underscoring Israel’s reliance on US diplomatic and military backing.
Hamas Responds with Symbolic Gesture
The escalation in rhetoric followed an announcement by Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, confirming the transfer of the remains of two Israeli captives who they say were killed during earlier Israeli air strikes. The group emphasized that recovering the remaining bodies would require “major efforts and specialised equipment,” but vowed to “close this file completely.”
The move was seen by observers as an effort by Hamas to signal its commitment to the ceasefire framework while pressuring mediators to expedite the next stage of prisoner exchanges.
Trump Issues Parallel Warning
From Washington, US President Donald Trump echoed Katz’s warning, saying Israel could resume its Gaza campaign “at a moment’s notice” if Hamas breaches the agreement. “Israel could have crushed Hamas during the two-year war if it wanted to,” Trump said, adding that his administration is “closely monitoring” the ceasefire’s implementation.
Trump’s comments reflect Washington’s dual strategy — publicly backing Israel’s right to self-defence while privately urging restraint amid growing global outrage over civilian deaths and the humanitarian collapse in Gaza.
Ceasefire Under Strain
The current ceasefire, brokered by the United States, Qatar, Türkiye, and Egypt, includes a phased exchange of hostages and prisoners, as well as the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
However, multiple reports indicate that Israeli operations continued even after the agreement took effect, leaving dozens of Palestinians dead or injured. Human rights observers have warned that the pattern undermines the credibility of Israel’s commitment to peace and risks plunging the region back into full-scale conflict.
Uncertain Future for Gaza
As mediators scramble to preserve the truce, Israel’s renewed threats mark a dangerous escalation that could derail months of diplomatic progress. Katz’s declaration of a “plan to crush Hamas” reinforces the view among analysts that Israel remains intent on military dominance, not political compromise.
With Gaza still reeling from devastation and mass displacement, the prospect of renewed bombardment deepens fears of another humanitarian catastrophe.
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