Warning comes as the Israeli military steps up bombings, operations around Gaza City

Israel's defence minister told Hamas on Sept 8 to lay down its arms or face annihilation, after US President Donald Trump said the militant group must accept a deal to release hostages in Gaza.

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The warnings came as the Israeli military intensified its bombings and operations around Gaza City, which it has vowed to capture in a bid to finally defeat Hamas after nearly two years of devastating conflict.

At least 48 people were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza on Sept 7, while another 10 were killed in strikes around Gaza City overnight, the civil defence agency reported. AFP news agency has contacted the Israeli military for comment.

Hamas, whose unprecedented October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the war, said shortly after Mr Trump's comments that it was ready for immediate talks, but the terms it gave for a deal appeared largely unchanged from previous rounds of negotiations.

"This is a final warning to the Hamas murderers and rapists in Gaza and in luxury hotels abroad: Release the hostages and put down your weapons — or Gaza will be destroyed and you will be annihilated," Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on X.