Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has ordered negotiations for the release of all hostages and an end to the war in Gaza “on terms acceptable to Israel.”

August 20, 2025Israel’s military on Wednesday announced the first steps of an operation to take over Gaza City,one of the last major areas of the enclave it does not already control. Israel's military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said IDF forces were now holding the outskirts of Gaza’s biggest urban center,

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel’s defense minister warned Friday that Gaza’s largest city would be destroyed unless Hamas yields to Israel’s terms, as the world’s leading authority on food crises said the city was gripped by famine from fighting and blockade.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Gaza city could "turn into Rafah and Beit Hanoun" unless Hamas agrees to Israel's terms.

The drums of war are pounding on the doorstep of Gaza City. Residents of the largest city in northern Gaza, packed with locals and refugees, fear the hours are ticking down before a looming Israeli offensive.