IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir in the Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. Click to see full-size image. (Israel Defense Forces)
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir told officers in the Gaza Strip on April 24 that the military will significantly expand its offensive against the Hamas Movement if a ceasefire-hostage deal is not reached soon.
The IDF renewed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that was brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar last January. Since then, the military has occupied 30% of the Strip’s territories and close to 2,000 Palestinians have been killed.
“We are continuing with the operational pressure and tightening the ring around Hamas as needed, and if we see no progress in the return of the hostages, we will expand our activities to an intense and even more significant move, until we reach the defeat [of Hamas],” Zamir said.
“Hamas is responsible for the start of this war. It now holds the hostages cruelly and is responsible for the difficult state of the population in Gaza. Hamas is mistaken when it comes to our abilities, intentions and determination, just like [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah and his top command,” he added.
Earlier in the day, the IDF issued an evacuation warning to Palestinians residing in the area of Beit Hanoun and the Sheikh Zayed neighborhood in northern Gaza.
In a post on the X social network, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman Colonel Avichay Adraee published a map of the area that is to be evacuated, saying that the warning comes in light of sniper attacks on troops and other activity by “terror groups” there.
According to Arab and Hebrew media reports, the attacks mentioned by the spokesman killed an Israeli soldier and wounded several others. More details are yet to emerge.
The IDF’s new warning to Hamas came a day after the Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported that the group was planning to propose a new ceasefire framework for Gaza.
According to the report, the proposal includes the release of all remaining hostages held in the Strip – at least 59, including 24 who are believed to be alive – in one phase in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza to the positions held under the recent ceasefire deal, a halt to military operations, and the entry of humanitarian aid. Hamas will also demand a five-year ceasefire with international guarantees.
The report added that the proposed agreement also includes the establishment of a technocratic committee for civilian governance in the Strip, based on an Egyptian proposal published in recent months, and openness for a reconciliation agreement with rival Fatah.
Mossad chief David Barnea took off for Qatar on April 24, the Times of Israel reported on April 24, citing a source with knowledge on the matter.
Walla news website reported that the Israeli spy chief will meet Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire-hostage deal in Gaza.
A new agreement will not likely be possible without serious concessions from Hamas. But even then, Israel could continue operations in Gaza in a way or another.
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dictator erdogan will send turkish army to israel soon. even erdogan is dictator its best leader of turkey so far. erdogan win armenia war. erdogan win libya war. erdogan win israel war soon. turkish youtubers invite young people on the streets for protest anti erdogan. turkey must ban youtube same as russia.
paleshitians need to get the fuck off of jewish land!!!
this is not shlomoshitians thiefs and landgrabbers land you moronic hasbara bastard. this is all palestine, from sinai to golan, from the river to the sea
israel ? hamas has offered return all hostages . to lock up all weapons . to close all tunnels . so israel announces expansion . which is all it has done for over 75 years . no changes or peace from the kult will come .
oh really? will the shlomo “army” this time defeat few barely armed hamas fighters? like they failed since 1,5 years? heheheh
isreal will not allow a peace agreement . it is just tool to control middle east energy through currency . competition like nord stream is not allowed . so it will never have peace .
the childhood indoctrinations of jewish masses tying land to religion keeps this this abomination running .
israel won’t have a gaza riviera, won’t annex the west bank nor will they get trump to denuclearize or disarm iran. aipac and the treasonous, israel-first slaves in the government, intel, military and mainstream media are a bunch of loooooosers. they have wasted their lives dollars and efforts for the last 3 decades for nothing. viva trump.