Israel Threatens ‘Mighty Hurricane’ of Strikes on Gaza as Trump Issues Final Warning to Hamas

Urging residents to evacuate, Israel Threatens ‘Mighty Hurricane’ of Strikes on Gaza as Trump Issues Final Warning to Hamas to accept a ceasefire and release captives. Israel has escalated its war rhetoric, warning Gaza City residents to evacuate immediately as it vowed a “mighty hurricane” of air and ground strikes to force Hamas into surrender. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued what they called a “final warning” to the militant group: release all hostages and disarm or face destruction.

At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump delivered his strongest ultimatum yet to Hamas, declaring that this is the group’s “last chance” to accept a ceasefire deal mediated by Washington.

The developments mark a dangerous new phase of the nearly two-year conflict, which has left Gaza in ruins and sparked mounting international outrage over civilian deaths, starvation, and accusations of genocidal rhetoric.

Israel Threatens ‘Mighty Hurricane’ of Strikes on Gaza as Trump Issues Final Warning to Hamas

Israel’s ‘Mighty Hurricane’ Warning

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz set the tone with a fiery post on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“A mighty hurricane will hit the skies of Gaza City today, and the roofs of the terror towers will shake.”

He added that the warning was directed at Hamas fighters both in Gaza and abroad, demanding the release of all hostages:

“This is a final warning to the murderers and rapists of Hamas in Gaza and in the luxury hotels abroad: Release the hostages and lay down your weapons or Gaza will be destroyed, and you will be annihilated.”

Hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Gaza residents directly:

“I say to the residents of Gaza City: you have been warned get out of there! In two days we brought down 50 terror towers, and this is only the opening stage of the intensified ground manoeuvre.”

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the strikes are a prelude to a larger ground operation aimed at capturing Gaza City once and for all.

Trump’s ‘Final Warning’ to Hamas

Parallel to Israel’s military escalation, U.S. President Donald Trump stepped up diplomatic pressure. On Sunday, he declared that Washington had offered Hamas its last chance to secure a ceasefire and release of hostages.

“The Israelis have accepted my terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. This is my last warning,” Trump said.

According to a senior Israeli official, the U.S. proposal requires Hamas to release all 48 remaining hostages both living and dead on the first day of a ceasefire, after which negotiations would determine the war’s end.

Hamas, however, has resisted calls to disarm immediately, insisting on guarantees of a full Israeli withdrawal and an official declaration ending the war.

Gaza Residents Under Fire

Reports from Gaza City described a relentless bombardment from the air and ground. Residents said Israeli forces blew up old armored vehicles packed with explosives, causing widespread destruction in neighborhoods including Sheikh Radwan, Zeitoun, and Tuffah.

The IDF also demolished high-rise buildings, including the 12-story Al-Ruya tower, which collapsed after being struck despite housing dozens of displaced families. Israel claimed Hamas used the site for intelligence and explosives.

Laila Saqr, a 40-year-old resident, told AFP:

“All we hear are bombings and ambulances carrying martyrs. Israel destroys everything even the memories. If they could, they would strip the very oxygen from the air.”

Humanitarian Catastrophe Deepens

The war has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported more than 64,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023, most of them civilians.

In the past 24 hours alone, 39 people were killed, including children. Among the dead was Osama Balousha, a Palestinian journalist. Nearly 250 journalists have been killed during the conflict, making it the deadliest war for the press in modern history.

Starvation has also become a grim reality. Six more Palestinians, including two children, died of malnutrition in the last day, raising the total to nearly 400 starvation-related deaths. Israel, which controls all aid into Gaza, disputes the figures, saying many deaths are due to other causes.

The Hostage Crisis

The fate of hostages remains the central sticking point. Hamas captured more than 250 Israelis and foreigners during its October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 people. While most captives were released in ceasefires in late 2023 and early 2025, Israel says 47 hostages remain in Gaza, including 25 believed dead.

Hamas insists it will release the rest only under conditions that guarantee an end to the war and Israeli withdrawal. An Israeli official confirmed the U.S. proposal includes releasing hostages upfront in exchange for a ceasefire.

Qatar, acting as a mediator, has urged Hamas to respond positively to the American proposal. However, senior Hamas figure Bassem Naim dismissed the plan as “preliminary ideas” designed to secure Hamas’s refusal rather than a real path to peace.

Jerusalem Attack Raises Tensions

Amid the escalating bombardment, violence also spread beyond Gaza. Hours after Katz’s threat, two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop in Jerusalem, killing six people, including a Spanish citizen. Hamas praised the attack.

Netanyahu vowed to continue the fight:

“Let it be clear: these murders strengthen our determination to fight terrorism.”

International Reactions

The international community has expressed alarm at both the scale of Israel’s operations and the rhetoric used by its leaders.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk said he was “horrified by the open use of genocidal rhetoric by senior Israeli officials.”

Meanwhile, Western governments have urged restraint, but Israel continues its campaign, claiming it must destroy Hamas to secure long-term peace.

The War So Far

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters launched a surprise attack on southern Israel. Israel responded with a massive assault that has turned much of Gaza into rubble.

• Israeli losses (since Oct. 7, 2023): 1,219 killed in initial attack; dozens more IDF casualties during Gaza operations.
• Palestinian losses: Over 64,500 killed, thousands missing under rubble.
• Hostages: 250 originally taken; 47 remain (25 presumed dead).
• Journalists killed: Nearly 250, all Palestinian.

The war has now entered its second year, with little sign of resolution.

Netanyahu’s Message to Gaza

In a video statement, Netanyahu warned:

“All of this is just a prelude, just the opening, to the main intensified operation—the ground manoeuvre of our forces, who are now organising and assembling to enter Gaza City.”

He urged civilians to evacuate before the upcoming operation:

“You have been warned. Leave now!”

Hamas’s Position

Hamas maintains it will not surrender unconditionally. The group has called for:

• A clear declaration of the war’s end
• Full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza
• Independent Palestinian administration to govern Gaza

Hamas says it is ready to negotiate but only if its political demands are met.

Also Read: Hamas Slams Netanyahu’s Gaza Takeover Amid Global Alarm

Outlook: Toward a Final Showdown?

With Israel vowing to “annihilate” Hamas and Trump warning this is the militants’ “last chance,” the conflict appears to be approaching a critical juncture.

The coming weeks may determine whether Gaza faces even more devastation or whether international pressure can force both sides toward a negotiated ceasefire.

For now, Gaza’s residents remain trapped between Israel’s warnings, Hamas’s defiance, and a humanitarian crisis worsening by the day.

Conclusion

The “mighty hurricane” warning from Israel marks one of the starkest ultimatums in the war so far. As Netanyahu rallies his forces and Trump raises pressure on Hamas, the stakes are higher than ever. With tens of thousands already dead, a hostage crisis unresolved, and Gaza’s civilians facing famine, the world is watching whether this war ends at the negotiating table or in further devastation.

Also Read: Israeli military evacuation order triggers panic in Gaza City