During a visit to the town of Nevitot, #Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened #Gaza with intensifying strikes and aggression if captives are not released soon. Katz said: "I want to send a clear message from here to the heads of the terrorists in Gaza: If Hamas does not soon allow the release of the #Israeli hostages from Gaza... and continues firing at Israeli communities, it will face blows of an intensity not seen in Gaza for a long time." This comes as the total toll for Israel’s aggression on Gaza reaches 45,500 #Palestinians since October 7, 2023.