Israel vows ‘hurricane’ of strikes on Gaza to force Hamas to accept surrender demand

  • 2025-09-08 03:05:22

Israel said it would ramp up airstrikes on Gaza on Monday in a “mighty hurricane,” to serve as a last warning to Hamas that it will destroy the enclave unless fighters accept a demand from US President Donald Trump to free all hostages and surrender.

Residents said Israeli forces bombed Gaza City from the air and blew up armored vehicles in its streets. Hamas said it was studying the latest US ceasefire proposal, delivered on Sunday with a warning from Trump’s that it was the militant group’s “last chance.”

“A mighty hurricane will hit the skies of Gaza City today, and the roofs of the terror towers will shake,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on X.

“This is a final warning to the murderers and rapists of Hamas in Gaza and in the luxury hotels abroad: Release the hostages and lay down your weapons - or Gaza will be destroyed, and you will be annihilated,” he wrote.

Katz’s post appeared before reports of shooting at a bus stop in Jerusalem that killed five people. Hamas praised the attackers.

According to a senior Israeli official, the latest US proposal for Gaza calls for Hamas to return all 48 remaining living and dead hostages on the first day of a ceasefire, during which negotiations would be held to end the war.

Hamas has long said it intended to hold onto at least some hostages until negotiations were complete. It said in a statement it was committed to releasing all hostages with a “clear announcement of an end to the war” and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

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