Israeli Defense Minister Warns of Gaza City’s Destruction Unless Hamas Yields to His Country’s Terms

This picture taken from a position on the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip, shows destroyed buildings in the besieged Palestinian territory on August 19, 2025. Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that 31 people were killed on August 19 by Israeli strikes and fire across the territory, with spokesman Mahmud Bassal telling AFP the situation was “very dangerous and unbearable” in the Zeitoun and Sabra neighbourhoods of Gaza City, where he said “artillery shelling continues intermittently”. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli defense minister is warning that Gaza’s largest city could be destroyed unless Hamas yields to his country’s terms. Israel Katz spoke Friday, the same day that the world’s leading authority on food crises said that Gaza City is gripped by famine from fighting and an Israeli blockade. A day earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would authorize the military to mount a major operation to seize Gaza City. Katz restated Israel’s ceasefire demands for the release of all hostages and Hamas’ complete disarmament. Hamas has said it would release captives in exchange for ending the war, but the militant group rejects disarmament without the creation of a Palestinian state.