The night of Tuesday, strong explosions are heard over much of the Gaza Strip. According to local authorities, there are at least 35 Israeli air strikes aimed at several different cities.
Over 100 people, many of whom are children, have been killed in the attacks, says Hamas -controlled Health Ministry in Gaza. Over 150 must have been damaged.
According to Israel’s military IDF, targeted attacks against various Hamas goals such as infrastructure and senior leaders in the group’s military and political branch have been implemented.
“This is a consequence of Hamas’s repeated refusal to release our hostages and its rejection of all the proposals they received from the US president’s emissary Steve Witkoff, as well as from the mediators,” says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah’s office in a statement.
It is emphasized that from now on, the military has been ordered to act against Hamas with increasing military force. IDF states that you are also prepared to expand the operation beyond only air attacks if needed.
USA was consulted before the attack
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz says in a statement that Israel will not end war until all the remaining hostages in Gaza are free.
“The gates of hell will open in Gaza if the hostage is not released,” he says.
The Trump administration was consulted by Israel before the attacks, says the White House for Fox News.
“Hamas could have released hostage to extend the ceasefire but instead chose war,” Brian Hughes, spokesman for the White House Security Council, told Times of Israel.
Hamas: Exposes the prisoners to unknown fate
The night’s attack is the largest in Gaza since a ceasefire began between the parties on January 19.
In a statement, Hamas notes that the ceasefire is thus broken.
“Netanyahu and his extremist government have decided to cancel the ceasefire agreement, which exposes the prisoners in Gaza to an unknown fate,” the terrorist organization announces.
After the first phase of the ceasefire expired in early March, the parties have not succeeded in agreeing the way forward. While Hamas has wanted to start the planned phase two of the agreement, where they were intended that Israeli forces would completely retire from the Gaza Strip, Israel has wanted to extend phase one.