Defense Minister Israel Katz has said Israel will seize Gaza land until Hamas agrees to release all captives still held in the Strip, Al Jazeera reports.

“The more Hamas persists in its refusal to release the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed to Israel,” Katz was quoted by The Jerusalem Post as saying.

“If the hostages are not released, Israel will continue to take more and more territory in the Strip for permanent control.”