Israel’s Big Move: Threatening to Seize Gaza Over Hostages

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is laying down some serious ultimatums, threatening to seize parts of Gaza if Hamas doesn’t release the remaining hostages. Meanwhile, Hamas is throwing shade right back, warning that if Israel doesn’t stop bombing, the hostages might not make it out alive.

It’s been just over a week since Israel resumed its military operations after a short-lived truce in January. And things are getting intense. Two projectiles were reportedly fired from Gaza—one intercepted, one landing near the border. While no casualties were reported, the message was clear: tensions are still sky-high.

At the same time, something rare happened in Gaza a large protest against Hamas. Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets, calling out the militant group and demanding an end to the war. That’s a bold move in a region where speaking out against Hamas is risky business.

Israel isn’t backing down. The government says it restarted military action to force Hamas to release the remaining hostages. Netanyahu made it crystal clear: “The more Hamas resists, the harder we will push.” And by “push,” he means seizing land in Gaza. Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, backed that up, warning that if Hamas doesn’t cooperate, “Israel will annex more territory.”

That’s a major shift, and it’s shaking up the entire situation.

Out of the 251 people taken hostage by Hamas during their October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, 58 are still in captivity. According to Israel, at least 34 of them have already died. Hamas, on the other hand, claims they are doing their best to keep the hostages alive but blames Israeli airstrikes for putting them in danger.

It’s a high-stakes game. Israeli survivor Gal Gilboa-Dalal, whose brother is still being held, is torn. He believes military action is the only way to deal with Hamas, but also fears for the hostages’ lives. “I can’t stop imagining our reunion,” he said, but with the ongoing bombings, that dream keeps slipping away.

The numbers are brutal. Since Israel resumed airstrikes on March 18, over 830 people in Gaza have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Meanwhile, no new deaths have been reported on the Israeli side. Since the start of the war, over 50,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, have died. The October 7 attack by Hamas that triggered the war left 1,218 people dead in Israel.

In an unprecedented turn, Palestinians in northern Gaza staged one of the biggest anti-Hamas protests of the war. Chants like “Hamas out!” and “Hamas terrorists!” echoed through the streets. Majdi, one of the protesters, put it bluntly: “People are tired.” He questioned why Hamas won’t step down if that’s what it takes to stop the bloodshed.

Hamas took control of Gaza back in 2007 after winning elections in 2006. Since then, no new vote has been held, and public dissent has been rare. But the tides may be shifting as frustration mounts.

With Netanyahu doubling down and Hamas refusing to budge, this crisis is far from over.