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From the Liveblog of
Friday, August 22, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Friday, August 22, 2025
‘The gates of hell will soon open’: Katz says government approved IDF plans for Gaza City takeover
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Defense Minister Israel Katz visits an IDF post in the Gaza Strip buffer zone, August 5, 2025. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)
Defense Minister Israel Katz says the government has approved the IDF’s plans to “defeat Hamas in Gaza,” as the military prepares to push into Gaza City in a new offensive.
“The gates of hell will soon open over Hamas murderers and rapists in Gaza — until they agree to Israel’s conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all hostages and their disarmament.”
He says that if Hamas doesn’t capitulate, Gaza City “will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun” — two cities that have been largely turned to rubble by Israeli bombardment.
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