Israel's defence chief details strategy for defeating Hamas amid hostage crisis

Israel is prepared to significantly expand its military campaign in the Gaza Strip if the Palestinian militant group Hamas refuses to agree to a deal for the release of hostages held in the enclave, according to a statement by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz.

Katz outlined the policy in a message posted on the social media platform X, Caliber.Az reports.

מדיניות ישראל בעזה, אותה מוביל הפיקוד הצה"לי בגיבוי הדרג המדיני, ברורה וחד משמעית:

בראש וראשונה עשיית כל מאמץ להביא לשחרור כלל החטופים במסגרת מתווה וויטקוף, ובניית גשר להכרעת החמאס בהמשך.

עצירת הסיוע ההומניטרי שפוגע בשליטת חמאס באוכלוסייה, ויצירת תשתית לחלוקה באמצעות חברות…

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) April 16, 2025

“The policy of Israel in Gaza, conducted by the command of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with the support of the political leadership, is clear and unambiguous: first and foremost, to take all measures for the release of all hostages within the framework of [U.S. Presidential Envoy Steven] Witkoff’s plan, and subsequently to create the conditions for the defeat of Hamas,” Katz wrote.

He warned that “if Hamas persists in its refusal [of the agreement], [Israeli military] actions will be expanded and will move into new phases.”

According to Katz, the Israeli strategy to increase pressure on Hamas includes restricting humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza. He argued that such a move is aimed at weakening Hamas’s influence: “This should undermine Hamas’s control over the population.”

Katz also emphasised that, going forward, “infrastructure for [aid] distribution through civil society” must be established within the enclave.

The military strategy, he noted, further involves heavy strikes on Gaza, the destruction of infrastructure both on the surface and underground, which, according to Israeli intelligence, is used by Palestinian militants, and the expansion of territorial control within the enclave. This includes “annexing these areas <...> into Israeli security zones to protect [Israeli border] communities,” Katz elaborated.

“Unlike in the past, the Israel Defence Forces do not leave areas they have cleared and brought under control,” he stated. “The Israel Defence Forces will remain in the security zones in Gaza as a buffer between the enemy and [Israeli] population centres, either on a permanent basis or as needed—just like in Lebanon and Syria.”

Katz noted that “hundreds of thousands of [Gaza] residents have already been evacuated,” and that “dozens of per cent of [the enclave’s] territory have been incorporated into security zones.” Simultaneously, he said, “The plan for the voluntary relocation of Gaza residents is progressing.”

By Tamilla Hasanova