This is an entry from: Live: Trump threatens Gaza residents with death as his team holds direct talks with Hamas about captives
Israel escalates threats as it pushes Hamas to surrender or face ‘gates of hell’
26 February 2025 06:28 GMT
The Times of Israel, citing an unnamed Israeli official, reports that Israel is presenting Hamas with three options:
- Extend the ceasefire’s first phase and continue releasing Israeli captives.
- Move to a second phase, where Israel halts its assault in exchange for Hamas releasing all remaining captives, disarming, exiling its leaders, and surrendering control of Gaza.
- Reject these terms and face an intensified war.
The official warned that if Hamas refuses to comply, Israel will escalate its military campaign with increased support from Washington. “It would be different,” the source said, boasting of “a new defence minister, a new chief of staff, all the weapons we need, and full legitimacy, 100 percent, from the Trump administration.”
Reiterating Israel’s genocidal intent, the official added, “The gates of hell will be opened.”