Israel orders IDF to seize more Gaza territory if Hamas doesn't release hostages

Threats by the Israeli government to annex parts of Gaza would violate the rights of Palestinians and breach international law

Calum Miller, the Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesman, told MailOnline

It wants to seize territory and potentially never return it.

He told Al Jazeera

This is the longest period since the start of conflict in October 2023 that no supplies whatsoever have entered Gaza

Sam Rose, director of planning at the UN's relief agency for Palestinian refugees, said

Due to the recent suspension of humanitarian aid into Gaza, stocks of medical supplies have dropped significantly and on top of this, hospital staff are struggling to manage the sharp increase of casualties.

In a statement, they said

Karoline Leavittwhite House press secretary

The president made it very clear to Hamas that if they did not release all of the hostages there would be all hell to pay,

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday

The more Hamas continues its refusal, the more territory it will lose to Israel,

Katz added

Israel Katzdefense Minister

If the terrorist organization Hamas continues to refuse to release the hostages, I have instructed the IDF to seize additional territories, while evacuating the population, and to expand the security zones around Gaza for the benefit of protecting Israeli communities and IDF soldiers, through permanent Israeli control of the territory,

Katz said in a statement

Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose war,

NSC Spokesman James Hewitt said on Thursday