Israel minister threatens to 'seize more ground' in Gaza to 'pressure' Hamas

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to "seize more ground" in the Gaza Strip for Israel if Hamas refuses to release the captives.

Israel will use “all military and civilian pressure, including evacuation of the Gaza population south and implementing US President Trump’s voluntary migration plan for Gaza residents," Katz said, according to The Times of Israel.

Katz said he has already instructed the military to occupy additional areas of the Gaza Strip while issuing forced evacuation orders for Palestinian civilians in those areas in a bid to pressure Hamas.

Hamas says it is ready to release Israeli captives on the condition of an immediate transition to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which includes ending the war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks the release of all captives without implementing the requirements of the ceasefire agreement.