Israel issues ‘gates of hell’ warning to Hamas if terror group doesn’t agree to cease-fire

Israel’s defense minister warned Friday the “gates of hell” will open up on Hamas soon if the terror group doesn’t agree to Israel’s terms for a cease-fire.

The ominous threat to destroy Gaza City came a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would authorize Israeli troops to mount a major operation to seize the Palestinian enclave’s largest city.

“Soon, the gates of hell will open upon the heads of Hamas’s 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,” Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote in a post on X.

“If they do not agree – Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun. Exactly as I promised – so it shall be,” he added, referring to two areas reduced to rubble early on in the war.

Israel is demanding the release of all hostages and Hamas’ complete disarmament to bring an end to the bloodshed.

Hamas, however, has said it would  release captives in exchange for ending the nearly two-year-old war, but rejects disarmament without the creation of a Palestinian state.

Thousands of Palestinians have already fled their homes as Israeli tanks have edged closer to Gaza City over the last 10 days.

The wide-scale operation in Gaza City could start within days after the IFD called up an additional 60,000 reservists this week.

Netanyahu has insisted his offensive plan is the surest way to free captives and crush Hamas.

“These two things — defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages — go hand in hand,” Netanyahu said Thursday.

With Post wires