Tel Aviv, Aug. 22 -- The Netanyahu government has approved the Israel Defence Forces' (IDF) plans to "defeat Hamas in Gaza," Defence Minister Israel Katz said, as the military prepares to push into Gaza City in a new offensive, the Times of Israel reported.

"The gates of hell will soon open over Hamas murderers and rapists in Gaza -- until they agree to Israel's conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all hostages and their disarmament," Katz said.

He further warned that if Hamas does not capitulate, Gaza City "will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun" -- two cities that have already been reduced to rubble by Israeli bombardment, according to the report.

Reinforcing this stance, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursd...