Israeli Defence Minister Warns Gaza City Could Be Destroyed if Hamas Refuses to Disarm
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued one of his starkest warnings yet on Friday, August 22, 2025, declaring that Gaza City would be leveled if Hamas failed to lay down its arms, release the remaining hostages, and accept Israel’s terms for ending the war.
“Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun,” Katz said, invoking the names of two cities in the Gaza Strip that were largely flattened in previous Israeli military campaigns. His comments, delivered during a press briefing in Tel Aviv, underscored the uncompromising stance of the Israeli government as the conflict entered another tense phase.
The threat came amid growing international concern over the humanitarian toll of the war, which has dragged on for months. Gaza City, the largest urban center in the territory, is already reeling from weeks of heavy bombardment and shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. Katz’s remarks signaled that Israel is prepared to escalate further unless Hamas makes concessions it has so far resisted.
Israel has long insisted that any ceasefire or political arrangement must include three key elements: Hamas’s complete disarmament, the release of all Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, and an end to attacks on Israeli territory. Officials in Jerusalem argue that without these guarantees, any pause in fighting would simply give Hamas time to regroup and rearm.
For its part, Hamas has rejected Israel’s conditions, accusing the Israeli government of using hostages as leverage to justify devastating military operations. The group has called instead for an immediate halt to Israeli attacks, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and international recognition of Palestinian rights.
Katz’s warning comes at a particularly sensitive moment. Negotiations brokered by regional powers and international mediators have stalled, with neither side willing to compromise on core demands. At the same time, humanitarian agencies are warning of catastrophic consequences if fighting intensifies in Gaza City, where more than a million people remain trapped with limited access to safe shelter.
The Israeli Defence Minister framed his message as a final opportunity for Hamas to change course. “Every hour that passes without a decision from Hamas brings Gaza closer to total destruction,” he said. “The choice is theirs.”
Reaction to Katz’s comments has been mixed. Supporters within Israel say his hardline position reflects the mood of a public still shaken by months of violence and the ongoing captivity of hostages. Critics, however, warn that leveling Gaza City would not only deepen the humanitarian crisis but also risk further isolating Israel on the international stage. Several European governments and human rights organizations have already condemned the scale of Israel’s operations, urging restraint and renewed diplomacy.
Despite these warnings, Katz’s remarks leave little doubt about Israel’s current trajectory. The government appears determined to apply maximum pressure on Hamas until it meets Israel’s demands. Whether that strategy will force a breakthrough—or plunge Gaza into even greater devastation—remains uncertain.
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