Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Hamas that Israel would seize territory in Gaza if the militants refused to release hostages still held in the Palestinian territory, AFP reports.

“The more Hamas persists in its refusal to release our hostages, the stronger the pressure we will exert,” Netanyahu told parliament.

“I say this to my colleagues in the Knesset, and I say it to Hamas as well: This includes the seizure of territories, along with other measures I will not elaborate here.”

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