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Egypt Today
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Israeli defense minister threatens to seize more Gaza territory unless Hamas frees captives
FILE - WAFA CAIRO – 21 March 2025: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened that his forces will seize and annex more territory in Gaza if Hamas does not release all the captives they still hold in the enclave. Katz emphasized that if Hamas refuses to release the captives, Israeli forces will maintain 'permanent Israeli control of the territory,' while 'evacuating the population and expanding security zones around Gaza to protect Israeli communities and soldiers.' Israeli officials' threats have been flying in the air since Tel Aviv launched renewed airstrikes on Gaza early Tuesday, shattering a two-month ceasefire and killing hundreds of people since then. On Wednesday, Katz directed a message to Gaza residents, urging them to 'remove Hamas' and 'return the hostages,' or face 'total devastation.' He warned in a video message on Twitter, 'Soon, the evacuation of the population from combat zones will resume, and what follows will be far more severe—you will pay the full price.' Israeli forces dropped leaflets in Gaza on Wednesday, urging people to leave voluntarily or face forced displacement, stating that 'the world map will not change if all the people of Gaza vanish.' The leaflets referenced US President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, asserting that the plan 'will force you to leave, whether you like it or not.' The message also offered assistance to those willing to cooperate, stating, 'We will not hesitate for a moment to help.' It concluded with, '[To] whoever wishes to save themselves before it is too late, we are here and will remain until the Day of Resurrection.' An Israeli airstrike on a United Nations headquarters in central Gaza City on Wednesday killed a foreign national and injured five other foreign UN workers, according to the Gaza health ministry#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps:// — Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) March 20, 2025 The US has expressed 'full support to Israel and the [Israeli army] in the actions that they've taken in recent days.' The Israeli attacks come after Trump threatened Hamas in March that there will be "hell to pay" if the captives are not released. In addition to airstrikes, the Israeli military announced the resumption of ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip, extending to the Netzarim Corridor that bisects Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that Israeli forces will strike Hamas with "increasing force," stating that future ceasefire talks facilitated by mediators will "only take place under fire." Hamas denied reports on Friday that it withdrew from ceasefire negotiations, including a possible prisoner swap. The movement stated it has 'responsibly and seriously' engaged with mediators regarding the proposal from US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Witkoff's proposal reportedly aims to extend the ceasefire until after Ramadan and Passover in exchange for additional captive releases. Hamas currently holds 59 captives in Gaza, including at least 22 believed to be alive. Hamas has rejected proposals to extend the expired first phase of the ceasefire to allow for more captive releases without Israel committing to end the war. Instead, Hamas has expressed readiness to transition to the second phase of the agreement, which includes a permanent end to the war, affirming its willingness to release all captives in one go in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. WITKOFF PROPOSAL While Hamas says it is studying Witkoff's proposal, Head of Hamas Abroad Khaled Mashal stated that the plan seeks to 'extort Hamas.' "The occupation seeks through this plan to extort Hamas by recovering prisoners from the first phase of the agreement, without addressing the requirements of the second phase related to sustainable calm and the complete withdrawal of the occupation from Gaza,' said Mashal in a statement released on Friday. He noted that Israel wants to 'negotiate with Hamas about Gaza's future, its governance, and its weapons, after being assured that the resistance had lost the leverage of the captives card.' Mashal highlighted that during the talks, Hamas accepted Witkoff's plan on the condition that it be part of the second phase, which guarantees a lasting ceasefire, the entry of aid, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Egypt Today
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Israeli forces drop leaflets on Gazans reading ‘world map will not change if you vanish': ABC News
Palestinians walk across the rubble in Gaza amid the Israeli war – WAFA/FILE CAIRO – 20 March 2025: Israeli forces on Wednesday dropped leaflets in Gaza telling people to leave the enclave voluntarily or otherwise be forcibly displaced, stating that 'the world map will not change if all the people of Gaza vanish.' The stark message continued: 'No one will notice you or ask about you. You will remain alone in your inevitable fate.' The leaflets are being dropped while Israeli forces have initiated renewed strikes on Gaza since Tuesday, killing hundreds of people and resuming one of the most brutal wars of the century. 'Neither [the United States of] America nor Europe cares about Gaza,' read the message. 'Only a little remains. The game is almost over.' The leaflets highlighted US President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, saying the plan 'will force you to leave, whether you like it or not.' The message offered to 'provide assistance to whoever agrees to help us in return. We will not hesitate for a moment to help.' '[To] whoever wishes to save themselves before it is too late, we are here and will remain until the Day of Resurrection.' Armed Forces' Spokesman Gharib Abdel Hafez has defended Egypt's arms deals and the establishment of military bases over the past years, saying 'we have recognized the threats looming on the horizon.'#Egypt #MiddleEast #Africa | #مصر #تحيا_مصر #جيش_مصر — Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) March 20, 2025 What is happening in Gaza? Early on Tuesday, Israeli forces started waves of airstrikes that have battered Gaza over the past 48 hours, killing hundreds of individuals across the enclave, the majority of whom are women and children. According to the Gaza health ministry, 506 people have been killed, including 200 children and 112 women, over the past 48 hours, bringing the total death toll since the start of the Israeli war in October 2023 to over 49,600. The Israeli military also announced on Wednesday the resumption of ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip, extending to the Netzarim Corridor that bisects Gaza. The Israeli army indicated that the new ground operations aim to establish a partial buffer zone between the northern and southern parts of Gaza. Hamas said it holds Israel fully responsible for the repercussions of the ground incursion into the Netzarim Corridor, warning that this action constitutes 'a new and dangerous violation of the signed ceasefire agreement.' Israeli attacks also struck a UN site in central Gaza City, killing a foreign staff member and injuring five other foreign workers, according to the ministry. Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services, stated, 'Israel knew that this was a UN premises, that people were living, staying and working there, it is a compound. It is a very well-known place." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a full investigation, noting that at least 280 UN workers have been killed since the war began in Gaza. An Israeli airstrike on a United Nations headquarters in central Gaza City on Wednesday killed a foreign national and injured five other foreign UN workers, according to the Gaza health ministry#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps:// — Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) March 20, 2025 The Israeli renewed attacks have shattered a ceasefire with Hamas that had been in place since January 19 and interrupted ongoing negotiations regarding the future of the agreement. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a "last warning" to Gaza on Wednesday, demanding the return of the remaining hostages or facing 'total destruction and devastation.' Hamas still holds 59 captives in Gaza, including at least 22 believed to be alive. In remarks on Tuesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that Israeli forces will strike Hamas with "increasing force," stating that future ceasefire talks, facilitated by mediators, will "only take place under fire." Hamas said the recent Israeli strikes have overturned the ceasefire agreement, blaming Washington for the 'massacres and killings of women and children in Gaza' due to the US's 'unlimited political and military support' for the Israeli government. The US State Department blamed the resumption of war in Gaza on Hamas, highlighting a US-crafted 'bridge' proposal for a ceasefire extension in exchange for the return of captives. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated in a Fox News interview that Israel consulted Trump's administration before launching the airstrikes on Gaza. 'As President Trump has made clear, Hamas, the Houthis, Iran, and all those who seek to terrorize not just Israel but also the United States will see a price to pay. All hell will break loose,' she remarked.
