Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has called on Hamas to release the hostages, considering it the “only option” available to them.

In a new escalation, Zamir threatened to expand Israeli ground operations in the Gaza Strip and seize more territory if Hamas continues to refuse to reach an agreement on the release of the hostages.

He stated, “Hamas will pay the price for its refusal, and it will face heavy fire. We will expand ground maneuvers, seize more territory, and destroy the infrastructure of the armed factions until their complete defeat.”