Israel has vowed to intensify airstrikes on Gaza, describing the assault as a “mighty hurricane,” in a final attempt to compel Hamas to release all hostages and surrender. The warning, issued by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, comes amid ongoing negotiations over a US-mediated ceasefire proposal, which President Donald Trump described as Hamas’s “last chance” to end the conflict.
Residents in Gaza reported heavy Israeli bombardment across the city, including the destruction of old armored vehicles in the streets. Airstrikes targeted residential and strategic areas, including Sheikh Radwan, Zeitoun, and Tuffah neighborhoods. Among the casualties on Monday were at least 25 Palestinians, including Osama Balousha, a journalist working for Palestinian media.
Fifteen others were killed in separate strikes and gunfire, raising the day’s death toll to at least 40. Palestinian authorities say nearly 250 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, making this the deadliest conflict in recent memory for media professionals. Israel denies deliberately targeting journalists.
Katz described the upcoming strikes as a final warning to Hamas fighters and their allies abroad. “A mighty hurricane will hit the skies of Gaza City today, and the roofs of the terror towers will shake,” he wrote on social media. He emphasized that Gaza would face annihilation unless hostages were freed and weapons surrendered.
The conflict has its roots in a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel in 2023, which killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of over 250 hostages, most of whom were later released during partial ceasefires. Hamas has retained some hostages as leverage for negotiations, insisting that a resolution must include a clear announcement of an end to hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
The latest US proposal reportedly calls for all 48 remaining hostages, alive or dead, to be returned on the first day of a ceasefire, followed by further negotiations. Israel is said to be seriously considering the proposal but has not provided details.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with large parts of the city reduced to rubble following months of intense fighting. More than 64,000 Palestinians have been confirmed killed, and an additional 393 people have died from malnutrition and starvation, mostly in the past two months.
Israel, which controls the flow of supplies into Gaza, disputes claims of widespread starvation, attributing many deaths to other causes.
The conflict continues to escalate as Israel intensifies its military campaign while diplomatic efforts, including US-mediated negotiations, seek to bring an end to the violence. Hamas, meanwhile, maintains its stance of retaining arms until the recognition of an independent Palestinian state, leaving the path to resolution uncertain.
