by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – With the ceasefire on the brink of collapse, signs are emerging that the war in Gaza will intensify in an unprecedented manner. Israeli Defense Minister warned that the “gates of hell will open” against Hamas if the remaining hostages are not released. Officials have estimated that, without an agreement between Israel and Hamas, fighting in Gaza could resume within about a week and a half.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hamas, saying, “Hamas should make no mistake, this is just the beginning. If Hamas does not release the hostages soon, the Gaza gates will be locked and the gates of hell will open.”
He added, “We will return to fighting and [Hamas] will face the IDF with strength and methods that it has not known, until [Hamas] is totally defeated. We will not allow Hamas to rule in Gaza.”
Meanwhile, incoming IDF Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir has called a meeting with senior military officials at the Southern Command for Friday, two days after he will assume command.
The meeting’s location underscores Gaza’s focus in the next stage of the IDF’s military strategy. Also, in response to the IDF’s failures on October 7, 2023, Zamir is anticipated to replace several top officials.
The Israeli government is reportedly planning to gradually increase pressure on Hamas to accept an extension of the first phase in order to secure the release of more hostages, according to a report from Israeli public broadcaster Kan.
Earlier this week, Israel announced the cessation of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip.
“There will be no free meals,” Netanyahu said, referring to the decision to halt humanitarian aid. “If Hamas thinks it can continue the ceasefire, or enjoy the terms of Phase A, without us receiving hostages – it is gravely mistaken.”
Netanyahu further explained that “Hamas is currently seizing all the supplies and goods sent to the Gaza Strip. It abuses the Gazan population trying to access the aid, shoots at them, and turns humanitarian aid into a terror budget directed against us. We will not agree to this under any circumstances.”
The next stages of Israel’s “maximum pressure” plan, according to the Kan report, include relocating the population from northern Gaza to the south, further demolishing infrastructure in the north, and eventually cutting all electricity to the Strip.
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen is planning to demand that Israel halt its electricity supply to the Gaza Strip at the upcoming cabinet meeting, according to a report by Israel’s News14 on Monday.
Gaza currently depends on Israeli electricity and gasoline-powered generators. If Israel cuts the supply, the Strip would quickly plunge into near-total darkness, unable to meet its energy needs independently.
Meanwhile as Hamas continues to stall negotiations, relations between Washington and Jerusalem continue to grow stronger.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed deep gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump in a video message released on Sunday, calling him the Jewish state’s greatest ally in the White House.
Netanyahu praised Trump for his strong support in three key areas: presenting a “visionary plan” for Gaza, expediting the delivery of withheld munitions, and pressuring Hamas to release Israeli hostages.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t attend Thursday peace talks in Istanbul despite calls from Ukraine and the United States to participate.
President Donald Trump defended his decision to skip a stop in Israel during his ongoing Middle East visit, asserting that his efforts in the region are ultimately beneficial to the Jewish state, despite speculation that Israel is being sidelined.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Wednesday that it intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemen, as Iran-backed Houthi terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the attack.
The White House announced on Wednesday that it has secured economic commitments worth at least $1.2 trillion from Qatar, including a historic commercial aviation deal for Boeing jetliners and GE Aerospace engines.
President Donald Trump’s decision to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria has triggered nationwide celebrations in the war-torn country and reverberated through diplomatic circles across the Middle East.
The tourist industry on Indonesia’s island has been plunged into mourning after authorities confirmed at least eight domestic tourists were killed and 34 others injured after a wooden vessel sank in Indonesia’s Bengkulu province. Previous estimates spoke of seven killed.
Iranian and European officials are set to meet in Istanbul on May 16 to revive discussions on the stalled 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed.