Hamas has denounced the Israeli defence minister’s call for the destruction of Gaza City, saying that Israel Katz’s comments amount to “a confession of committing a crime that amounts to ethnic cleansing”, Al Jazeera reports.

The group also said it would release captives in exchange for ending the conflict, but it rejects disarmament without the creation of a Palestinian state.

Katz had earlier written on X: “The gates of hell will soon open on the heads of Hamas’ murderers and rapists in Gaza — until they agree to Israel’s conditions for ending the war.”