‘Any political solution for Gaza is irrelevant unless Hamas is fully eliminated,' says Katz
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has called Friday on the Israeli army to devise a strategy to "defeat Hamas" in Gaza threatening further escalation if efforts to secure a hostage exchange deal fail before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
In a statement, Katz said: "I have instructed the Israeli army to prepare a comprehensive plan to defeat Hamas in Gaza if the hostages are not released by the time President Trump assumes office on Jan. 20."
This call for military escalation comes amid continued Israeli atrocities in Gaza and ongoing efforts to finalize a hostage swap and cease-fire.
“We must not fall into a war of attrition against Hamas in Gaza while the hostages remain trapped in tunnels at great risk to their lives and suffering,” noted Katz.
This rhetoric comes at a time when Israel has already inflicted widespread suffering on the people of Gaza and reportedly killed several hostages in the enclave.
Katz also hinted at the acceptance of proposals from Israeli hardliners, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who advocate reducing or cutting off international humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza.
Katz further added that "any political solution for Gaza is irrelevant unless Hamas is fully eliminated," echoing Israel's long-standing denial of Palestinian sovereignty.
For over a year, Hamas has expressed its readiness to finalize a deal and even agreed in May 2024 to a proposal by US President Joe Biden. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withdrew from the agreement introducing new condition.
The Israeli army has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed over 46,000 people, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
