‘The gates of hell will open’ Israel warns Hamas as troops begin Gaza City takeover & govt slams horror famine as ‘lies’

ISRAEL has warned "the gates of hell will open" in Gaza if Hamas refuses to release all of the remaining hostages.

The country has also angrily dismissed a report that officially declared a famine in Gaza while it blockades the strip.

The horror toll of the 22-month war has been laid bare today after famine was officially declared in Gaza City for the first time.

The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification described the situation in Gaza as "entirely man-made" as they warned of severe malnutrition across the war-torn Strip.

Humanitarian aid was yesterday parachuted into the besieged Gaza city of Deir al-Balah. 

Large crowds of people also gathered in Khan Younis to collect food.

At least 251 civilians have died as a result of malnutrition with just under half being children, according to the latest numbers from the Gaza health ministry.

The declaration marks just the fifth time famine has been announced since it was established in 2004.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the declaration of famine as “utterly horrifying”.

He added: “The Israeli government’s refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza has caused this man-made catastrophe.

"This is a moral outrage."

But Israel’s  foreign ministry said the IPC had released a “fabricated report to fit Hamas’ fake campaign”.

Mr Netanyahu  said: “This  ignores Israel’s humanitarian efforts and Hamas’s systematic theft.

"Hamas steals aid to finance its war machine.”

Around 500,000 Palestinians remain in Gaza City - the last remaining Hamas stronghold.

Israel has described the hugely built up civilian area as the epicentre of Hamas' operations.

Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed today to destroy Gaza City to rid it of terrorists entirely.

It comes as IDF troops started with phase one of Operation Gideon's Chariots II which will see tens of thousands of troops encircle the city before launching a final push to takeover.

Katz posted on social media warning the terror group of what they can expect from the military invasion if they don't agree to Israel's demands to end the war.

He wrote: "Soon, the gates of hell will open upon the heads of Hamas's 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.

"If they do not agree, Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun."

Both of those cities have already been largely dismantled during Israeli operations in the past.

The strong words came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he had ordered immediate negotiations with Hamas.

They are aimed at freeing all the remaining hostages in Gaza, believed to be around 50, and allowing Israel to take control of Gaza City.

The PM announced: "These two matters -- defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages -- go hand in hand."

Recent peace talks had sparked hope this week that the Gaza City siege could be halted if both sides can agree to a deal.

A proposal, already backed by Hamas, would see a partial deal involving the release of 10 alive hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire.

Israel is still reviewing the proposal but officials are signalling they are unlikely to accept it as it doesn't involve all 50 hostages being freed.

It is unclear if Netanyahu can be persuaded into agreeing to anything less than what he has demanded.

IDF troops kicked off Operation Gideon's Chariots II on Wednesday as they started operating in the Zeitoun and Jabalia areas which sit next to Gaza City.

Katz said they are laying the groundwork for a further offensive set to commence in a matter of weeks which will involve the encirclement of the whole city.

A surge of troops, tanks and army vehicles will then all storm in to pierce the heart of Hamas until complete operational control is achieved.

Plans are ramping up after the Israel Defense Forces called up 60,000 reservists in preparation for the assault on Wednesday.

Hours later, huge explosions tore through Khan Younis as Israeli military spokesperson Brig Gen Effie Defrin said the IDF will continue to "deepen the blows to Hamas in Gaza City, a terror stronghold".

Mustafa Qazzaat, head of the emergency committee in the Gaza municipality, described the situation as "catastrophic".

UN Secretary General António Guterres warned an immediate ceasefire must be agreed "to avoid death and destruction".

The plan to seize control of Gaza City has been met with international backlash.

France went directly against the US and Israel by announcing it will become the first G7 nation to view Palestine as its own state starting in September.

Britain's Sir Keir Starmer vowed he would recognise a Palestinian state by September unless Israel agrees to end the "appalling" crisis in Gaza.

Other world leaders have cited the devastating humanitarian situation - now confirmed through the famine declaration - as set to worsen if the plans go ahead.

Israel have fiercely defended their Gaza assault plans, saying it is the only way to beat Hamas.

And a defiant Netanyahu accused the terror group of refusing to "lay down its arms" - leaving Israel "no choice but to finish the job".

To counter the humanitarian concerns, Israel's government say they will help to improve the humanitarian situation on the ground.

They plan to build several more aid distribution centers as well as two field hospitals at key points in the Strip to treat Gazan civilians.

Israel's offensive since the horror October 7 massacre has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians, according to figures from the health ministry in Gaza.