JERUSALEM 

Israel’s War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz threatened Sunday to invade Rafah city during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan if hostages held by Hamas are not released.

“I say this very clearly: Hamas has a choice. They can surrender, release the hostages, and this way, the citizens of Gaza can celebrate the holy holiday of Ramadan,” Gantz told a conference in Jerusalem.

The Israeli army plans to launch a ground attack in Rafah, home to more than 1.4 million residents seeking refuge from war, to defeat what Tel Aviv calls the remaining "Hamas battalions."

Palestinians have sought refuge in Rafah as Israel pounded the rest of the enclave since Oct. 7. The ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed nearly 29,000 victims and caused mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

Gantz, a former defense minister, said that the invasion of Rafah will occur in coordination with “our American and Egyptian partners to minimize civilian casualties,” according to The Times of Israel newspaper.

“The world must know, and Hamas leaders must know – if by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will be extended to the Rafah area,” he added.

Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, is expected to start on March 10.

Hamas is believed to be holding more than 130 Israeli hostages following its cross-border attack, which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people.

The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.