I strongly support the interpretation of Matthew 16:18 that it means ‘storm the gates of hell’. This is what Jesus was modelling in his ministry.

Peter, in his commentary Donald Hagner examines the OT and intertestamental background (Is. 38:10; Wis. 16:13; 3 Macc. 5:51; Pss. Sol. 16:2) to the phrase ‘gates of Hades’ (‘gates of hell’ is a very misleading translation of pulai hadou), and concludes that the phrase ‘is probably best taken as meaning “the power of death” or perhaps simply “death”’ (Hagner, Matthew 14-28, 471-472). He translates katischusousin ‘shall not overpower’. Hagner does not mention this, but there are similar instances where the verb is used with the genitive of the object in Hermas to mean ‘overpower’, ‘gain a victory over’: ‘win a victory over all evil’ (Visions 2.3.2), and ‘win a victory over the works of the devil’ (Mandates 12.6.4).

The meaning, therefore, is that death shall not overpower the church which is built on the rock of Peter or of Peter’s confession: ‘the church as God’s eschatological community will never die or come to an end – this despite the eventual martyrdom of the apostles and even, more imminently, the death of its founder’ (Hagner, Matthew 14-28, 472). This, of course, is quite different to the idea of storming the gates of hell. Jesus certainly ‘modelled’ an assault on the house of the strong man, but I don’t think there is any biblical basis for the view that demons lived in Hades – I could be wrong. In any case, that is not what Jesus is talking about in Matthew 16:13-23, which has to do with his determination to follow a path that will lead to suffering and death.