'Open the gates of hell': Israeli far-right demands Gaza escalation after Hamas rejects disarmament

Far-right ministers in the Israeli government have demanded the military further escalate its brutal campaign against Gaza after Hamas said it would only agree to a ceasefire that permanently ends the war.

In a speech Thursday, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya offered to release all of the remaining captives in one go if Israel agreed to permanently end the war but rejected the Netanyahu government's proposal for a temporary ceasefire.

"Netanyahu and his government use partial agreements as a cover for their political agenda, which is based on continuing the war of extermination and starvation," al-Hayya said, adding that "we will not be part of passing this policy".

In response, Israel's extremist finance minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the military to "open the gates of hell" and expel the Palestinians from Gaza.

Israel's war on Gaza has killed more than 51,000 people, mostly women and children, over the past 18 months, according to Gaza's health ministry. The bodies of thousands of uncounted victims are believed to be trapped under rubble. 

Almost 1,700 have died since 18 March, when Israel ended the ceasefire and resumed its bombardment of Gaza.

"The State of Israel will not surrender to Hamas and will not end the war without a complete victory," Smotrich wrote on social media on Thursday.

"The time has come to open the gates of hell on Hamas, to deepen the fighting until the full occupation of the Strip, the destruction of Hamas, and the realisation of President Trump's plan for the voluntary departure of Gazans for rehabilitation in other countries," he continued.

Smotrich was referring to a proposal put forward by the US president in February that would see the US take over Gaza after the war, expel the Palestinians into neighbouring countries, and build a luxury tourist resort on the ruins of the strip.

The shock announcement was lauded by the Israeli government, which has put plans into place for the "voluntary emigration" of Palestinians out of Gaza.

Smotrich was joined by the ultranationalist national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who also demanded further escalation.

"No deal, no ceasefire, no aid – only continued fighting until the Nazis are defeated in Gaza," he wrote in a post on X.

"Increase the pressure, exert all the power and might until Hamas begs on its knees."

Israel earlier this month demanded Hamas unilaterally disarm as a precursor for ending the war. It offered to stop the fighting and allow aid into the strip for 45 days in return for the release of half the remaining prisoners still held in Gaza.

Hamas described disarmament as a "red line" and rejected the proposal.