Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz warned on 28 July that the Israeli military will launch a severe response in Gaza if Hamas fails to release hostages it is holding. “The gates of hell will open,” Katz said, according to multiple media briefings summarised by regional news outlets. Katz did not outline a specific timeline or operational details, but the threat signals a potential escalation in the long-running standoff with the militant group. Hamas has previously used hostage negotiations to press for prisoner releases and other concessions from Israel.