International
Top Israeli defense official warns Hamas, annexation of Gaza if hostages not freed
By Kalé Carey (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Shianne DeLeon (Video Editor)
- The Israeli defense minister is vowing to annex parts of the Gaza Strip if Hamas refuses to release 59 hostages still being held by the terrorist group. Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday if Hamas militants do not free the hostages Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will take control of additional land in Gaza.
- Katz said, “As long as Hamas continues its refusal, it will lose more and more land to Israel.”
- Katz also promised to “intensify” Israel’s military operations in Gaza “until the hostages are released and Hamas is defeated.”
Full Story
The Israeli defense minister is vowing to annex parts of the Gaza Strip if Hamas refuses to release 59 hostages still being held by the terrorist group.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 24%
Center 36%
Right 40%
Bias Summary
- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to annex parts of the Gaza Strip unless Hamas releases the remaining Israeli hostages held in the territory.
- Israel resumed airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, killing nearly 600 people since breaking a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.
- The government plans to intensify military operations until Hamas returns 59 dead and living hostages, following the exchange of 1,800 Palestinian prisoners for 25 hostages in earlier negotiations.
- Katz vowed to expand military pressure on Hamas, stating, "We will intensify the fight with aerial, naval, and ground shelling… Until hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated.
- Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, ordered the military to "seize additional areas in Gaza" if Hamas does not release all hostages.
- Katz stated the military would continue operations in Gaza "with increasing intensity" until all hostages "both living and dead" are returned.
- Katz announced that Israel will implement US President Trump's voluntary transfer plan for Gaza residents.
- Katz insisted on maintaining military pressure on Gaza until all hostages are released.
- Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, stated that Israel would annex land in Gaza if Hamas does not release hostages.
- Thousands of Israelis protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, claiming attempts to weaken the judiciary's oversight have prompted the protests.
- Hamas is holding 59 hostages, with ongoing military operations resulting in significant casualties amid worsening conditions in Gaza.
- The Israeli shekel has depreciated 3.9% against the dollar amid rising tensions and a fragile truce with Hamas.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
frame Israel’s actions as “seizing” land and increasing “pressure” against Palestine, emphasizing the high Palestinian casualties, with specific reference to the number of children killed.
Media outlets on the right
de-emphasize Palestinian casualties, focusing instead on Israel’s security concerns, internal political challenges for Netanyahu, and the economic impact on the shekel.
Media outlets in the center
attempt balance, using terms like “seize additional territories,” focusing on the ceasefire’s instability and Israel’s return to war as a “blatant violation”.
Report an issue with this comparison
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
Left
+0
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Far
Right
Right
+0
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Untracked Bias
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131 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
131
Leaning Left
16
Center
24
Leaning Right
27
Last Updated
11 hours ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
What did Israel Katz say?
Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday, March 21, if Hamas militants do not free the hostages Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will take control of additional land in Gaza, which would lead to more Palestinians being evacuated and Israel increasing a “security zone” around the enclave to protect its civilians.
Katz also promised to “intensify” Israel’s military operations in Gaza “until the hostages are released and Hamas is defeated.”
What else is Katz warning of?
Katz added that his nation will employ “all military and civilian pressure” to reach its objectives, including the use of “President Donald Trump’s voluntary migration plan for Gaza residents.”
How does it play into the bigger picture?
The statement comes as IDF ground operations continued to destroy Hamas infrastructure in Gaza.
Earlier this week, the IDF hit Hamas targets with strikes under a campaign dubbed “Operation Strength and Sword.”
Israeli officials have warned if the hostages are not released and Hamas is not driven out “the alternative is total destruction.”
Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu, ceasefire, Donald Trump, Gaza, Hamas, hostage, Israel, Israel Defense Forces
[KALE CAREY]
THE ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER IS VOWING TO ANNEX PARTS OF THE GAZA STRIP IF HAMAS REFUSES TO RELEASE 59 HOSTAGES STILL BEING HELD BY THE TERRORIST GROUP.
DEFENSE MINISTER ISRAEL KATZ SAID FRIDAY IF HAMAS MILITANTS DO NOT FREE THE HOSTAGES ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES WILL TAKE CONTROL OF ADDITIONAL LAND IN GAZA.
LEADING TO MORE PALESTINIANS BEING EVACUATED AND ISRAEL INCREASING A “SECURITY ZONE” AROUND THE ENCLAVE TO PROTECT ITS CIVILIANS.
KATZ SAYS “AS LONG AS HAMAS CONTINUES ITS REFUSAL, IT WILL LOSE MORE AND MORE LAND TO ISRAEL.”
KATZ ALSO PROMISED TO “INTENSIFY” ISRAEL’S MILITARY OPERATIONS IN GAZA “UNTIL THE HOSTAGES ARE RELEASED AND HAMAS IS DEFEATED.”
KATZ ADDED HIS NATION WILL EMPLOY “ALL MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PRESSURE” TO REACH ITS OBJECTIVES INCLUDING THE USE OF “PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S VOLUNTARY MIGRATION PLAN FOR GAZA RESIDENTS.”
THE STATEMENT COMING AS I-D-F GROUND OPERATIONS CONTINUE TO DESTROY HAMAS INFRASTRUCTURE IN GAZA.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE I-D-F HIT HAMAS TARGETS WITH STRIKES UNDER A CAMPAIGN DUBBED “OPERATION STRENGTH AND SWORD.”
ISRAELI OFFICIALS HAVE WARNED IF THE HOSTAGES ARE NOT RELEASED AND HAMAS IS NOT DRIVEN OUT “THE ALTERNATIVE IS TOTAL DESTRUCTION.”
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KALE CAREY.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 24%
Center 36%
Right 40%
Bias Summary
- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to annex parts of the Gaza Strip unless Hamas releases the remaining Israeli hostages held in the territory.
- Israel resumed airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, killing nearly 600 people since breaking a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.
- The government plans to intensify military operations until Hamas returns 59 dead and living hostages, following the exchange of 1,800 Palestinian prisoners for 25 hostages in earlier negotiations.
- Katz vowed to expand military pressure on Hamas, stating, "We will intensify the fight with aerial, naval, and ground shelling… Until hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated.
- Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, ordered the military to "seize additional areas in Gaza" if Hamas does not release all hostages.
- Katz stated the military would continue operations in Gaza "with increasing intensity" until all hostages "both living and dead" are returned.
- Katz announced that Israel will implement US President Trump's voluntary transfer plan for Gaza residents.
- Katz insisted on maintaining military pressure on Gaza until all hostages are released.
- Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, stated that Israel would annex land in Gaza if Hamas does not release hostages.
- Thousands of Israelis protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, claiming attempts to weaken the judiciary's oversight have prompted the protests.
- Hamas is holding 59 hostages, with ongoing military operations resulting in significant casualties amid worsening conditions in Gaza.
- The Israeli shekel has depreciated 3.9% against the dollar amid rising tensions and a fragile truce with Hamas.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
frame Israel’s actions as “seizing” land and increasing “pressure” against Palestine, emphasizing the high Palestinian casualties, with specific reference to the number of children killed.
Media outlets on the right
de-emphasize Palestinian casualties, focusing instead on Israel’s security concerns, internal political challenges for Netanyahu, and the economic impact on the shekel.
Media outlets in the center
attempt balance, using terms like “seize additional territories,” focusing on the ceasefire’s instability and Israel’s return to war as a “blatant violation”.
Report an issue with this comparison
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
Left
+0
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Far
Right
Right
+0
Click to close
Untracked Bias
Click to close
131 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
131
Leaning Left
16
Center
24
Leaning Right
27
Last Updated
11 hours ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
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