‘The gates of hell will soon open’: Israeli Defense Minister on approving Gaza City takeover

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli government has approved the IDF’s plans to “defeat Hamas in Gaza,” as the military prepares to push into Gaza City in a new offensive.

“The gates of hell will soon open over Hamas murderers and rapists in Gaza — until they agree to Israel’s conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all hostages and their disarmament.”

He said that if Hamas doesn’t capitulate, Gaza City “will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun” — two cities that have been largely turned to rubble by Israeli bombardment, according to The Times of Israel.

The Israeli military earlier said it was calling up about 60,000 reservists ahead of the planned ground offensive to capture and occupy all of Gaza City.