Israel will annex parts of Gaza until captives freed, says defence minister

The Israeli defence minister warned Hamas on Friday that the army will permanently seize and annex territory in Gaza if captives are not released. 

Israel Katz announced that the army will also expand the buffer zone his country has established along the the Gaza Strip's boundary with Israel. 

“The more Hamas persists in its refusal to release the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed to Israel,” he stressed.

“I have directed the IDF [military] to expand the manoeuvre, take control of more ground and hold it permanently to protect Israeli communities and soldiers.”

Read more: Israel will annex parts of Gaza until captives freed, says defence minister