Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday delivered a stark ultimatum to Hamas: lay down arms and release hostages or face “annihilation,” amid intensifying military operations in Gaza and growing international concern over the escalating conflict.
The warning came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Hamas must accept a deal for the release of hostages seized during the group’s unprecedented October 2023 attack on Israel. Hamas, in a surprise shift, responded that it was ready for immediate talks, citing “ideas from the American side aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement.”
Deadly Violence on Multiple Fronts
In Gaza City, Israel continued air and ground assaults overnight, with the civil defence agency reporting 10 deaths after strikes leveled several residential areas. At least 48 more people were killed across the territory on Sunday, according to the agency. AFP noted that restrictions on reporting and access to Gaza prevented independent verification of the figures.
The violence was mirrored in Israel-annexed East Jerusalem, where gunmen opened fire at a bus stop, killing five people and wounding at least seven others. Israeli police confirmed that the attackers were also killed in the exchange. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the incident, declaring: “These murders strengthen our determination to fight terrorism.”
A Father’s Loss
Amid the chaos in Gaza, Issa Suleiman carried the shrouded body of his one-year-old son through the rubble. “We were sleeping in the tent with my three children and my wife,” he said. “Five of my neighbours were killed, and my wife and mother are among the wounded.”
Defence Minister Katz vowed the offensive would intensify, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “Today, a massive hurricane will hit the skies of Gaza City.”
International Outrage
The scale of destruction and the rhetoric from Israeli officials have sparked international condemnation. UN rights chief Volker Türk said he was “horrified by the open use of genocidal rhetoric” by senior Israeli leaders.
In Europe, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced new measures to halt what he called “the genocide in Gaza,” drawing a fierce backlash from Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, who branded the remarks as part of an “antisemitic campaign.” Madrid rejected the accusation as “false and slanderous.”
Hostage Talks in Flux
The hostage issue remains the core of negotiations. Israel says 47 hostages remain in Gaza, including 25 believed dead. Trump, who has personally pressed for a resolution, said on Sunday: “The Israelis have accepted my terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. This is my last warning.”
Hamas countered with demands for a full ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian committee to govern the territory.
Last month, Hamas accepted a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal involving a 60-day truce and staggered hostage releases. Israel rejected the terms, insisting on the release of all hostages at once, Hamas’s disarmament, and its removal from power in Gaza.
Heavy Toll
Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault killed 1,219 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to Israeli figures. Israel’s subsequent military offensive has killed at least 64,522 Palestinians, the majority civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry figures, which the United Nations regards as broadly reliable.
As both sides weigh new U.S. proposals, the war grinds on. For families on either side of the conflict, the political manoeuvring remains overshadowed by grief, fear, and uncertainty over what comes next.
