The Israeli army will operate in Gaza City until the Palestinian Hamas movement is completely crushed, Israeli defense minister Israel Katz said, reports The Times of Israel.

“Gaza City is on fire. The IDF [i.e. the Israel Defense Forces] is striking terrorist infrastructure with an iron fist, and IDF soldiers are fighting bravely to create the necessary conditions for the release of the [Israeli] hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” Katz said.

“We will not relent and we will not back down until the mission is accomplished,” he added.

Axios: Israel launches offensive to occupy Gaza City