Katz: Israel will fight until Hamas’s ‘complete elimination’ if all hostages not freed

By Emanuel Fabian

You will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

You will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

18 March 2025, 5:20 pm

7 Edit

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Defense Minister Israel Katz visits the Tel Nof Airbase, March 18, 2025. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)

Defense Minister Israel Katz says Israel will not end the fighting against Hamas until all of the hostages are returned.

“Hamas must realize that the rules of the game have changed, and if it does not immediately release all the hostages, the gates of hell will open, and it will find itself facing the full intensity of the IDF in the air, sea, and land, until its complete elimination,” he says during a visit to the Tel Nof Airbase.

“We will not stop fighting until all the hostages are returned home and all threats to the southern residents are removed,” he adds, according to remarks provided by his office.