Hamas will lose more territory if hostages not released, says Israeli DM Katz, as IDF expands ground op in Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday announced steps to increase pressure on Hamas alongside the renewed fighting in Gaza. Katz said he instructed the IDF to expand the ground maneuvers and seize additional areas of the Gaza Strip while evacuating the local population and expanding the security zones around the enclave.

Katz clarified that the IDF will continue Operation "Strength and Sword" with increased intensity while warning that if Hamas persists in its refusal, it will lose territory to Israel. He said that Israel would begin annexing Gaza territory if Hamas did not release the hostages. 

At the same time, Katz reaffirmed Israel's support for the so-called “Witkoff proposal” presented by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. The proposal calls for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in two stages with an extension of the temporary ceasefire. Katz also reaffirmed the Israeli government’s support for U.S. President Donald Trump's "voluntary evacuation" as a means of increasing pressure on Hamas. 

“The more Hamas continues its refusal to release the hostages, the more territory it will lose to Israel,” Katz stated on Friday. “Israel will continue Operation ‘Strength and Sword' with increasing intensity until the hostages are released by Hamas. We adhere to Witkoff's proposal to release all the hostages, living and dead, in advance and in two stages with a ceasefire in between – without endangering Israeli security interests.” 

“We are intensifying the fighting with strikes from the air, sea, and land, and by expanding the ground maneuver until the hostages are released and Hamas is defeated while using all military and civilian means of pressure – including evacuating the Gaza population south and implementing US President Trump's voluntary transition plan for the residents of Gaza,” Katz added. 

Meanwhile, IDF troops completed the encirclement of the Tel a-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah earlier on Sunday. 

“During the past hours, IDF troops operated and concluded the encirclement of Tel al-Sultan in Rafah,” the IDF spokesman said. “The purpose of the activity is to dismantle terror infrastructure sites and eliminate terrorists in the area, in order to reinforce control and expand the security zone in southern Gaza.” 

The operation to encircle the neighborhood began overnight and saw Israeli forces eliminate several terrorists while raiding a Hamas command and control complex. 

The military spokesperson also noted that "IDF troops are allowing civilians to evacuate from the combat zone for their own safety, through organized routes. The IDF will continue to operate against terrorist organizations in Gaza to protect Israeli civilians.” 

Earlier on Sunday morning, IDF Arabic Spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee issued a call for civilians in Tel a-Sultan to evacuate the area due to increased military operations. 

#عاجل ‼️ انذار عاجل الى سكان قطاع غزة المتواجدين في منطقة تل السلطان في رفح

⭕️بدأ جيش الدفاع هجوماً لضرب المنظمات الإرهابية حيث تعتبر المنطقة التي تتواجدون فيها منطقة قتال خطيرة.

⭕️شارع غوش قطيف يعتبر مسارًا إنسانيًا لاستخدامكم من أجل الانتقال الى منطقة المواصي.

🔴نحذركم:… pic.twitter.com/7uY6g8GBEV

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) March 23, 2025

The IDF is also operating in the northern Gaza neighborhood of Beit Hanoun. According to the IDF, the Israeli troops in Beit Hanoun are also “allowing civilians to evacuate the combat zone for their safety.” 

Analysts believe the IDF will begin increasing operations in Gaza over the coming days to pressure Hamas to agree to the Witkoff proposal. 

Meanwhile, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry claimed that the death toll from the war had surpassed 50,000 people. The ministry claimed that at least 50,021 Palestinians have been killed and 113,274 have been injured since the start of the war on Oct. 7, 2023.