The Israeli military on Tuesday said it conducted ‘extensive strikes’ in the Gaza Strip on terror targets belonging to Hamas, marking the biggest attack since the ceasefire began on January 19.
The strikes also made further progress in the truce talks uncertain.
As per local Israeli media reports that quoted the Palestinian Health Ministry, 232 people died in the airstrikes.
Israel Defense Forces said on X: “In accordance with the political echelon, the IDF and ISA are currently conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.”
Netanyahu’s office reacts
Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that he and Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the strikes.
“The IDF is, at this time, attacking targets of the Hamas terrorist organization throughout the Gaza Strip in order to achieve the objectives of the war as they have been determined by the political echelon including the release of all of our hostages, the living and the deceased,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s official X page said.
“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength. The operational plan was presented by the IDF over the weekend and approved by the political leadership,” it said.
Israel’s envoy to UN warns Hamas
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, warned that Hamas should release all hostages since no mercy will be shown to enemies.
“The Security Council will convene tomorrow to discuss the situation in Gaza. It is time for the countries of the world to take seriously our unwavering commitment to bring back all our hostages home and defeat the enemy. Nothing will stop us from fighting to free our hostages who have been held in brutal Hamas captivity for 527 days. We will show no mercy against our enemies while our hostages languish in Hamas terror tunnels,” the envoy posted on X.
According to media reports, Hamas has blamed Netanyahu for overturning the agreement.
The ceasefire remained in place for roughly two and a half weeks after the conclusion of the first phase, as mediators worked to broker new terms for the truce’s extension, reported The Times of Israel.
Meanwhile,Israel reportedly consulted the Donald Trump administration before conducting the strikes.
During the temporary ceasefire that commenced on January 19, several hostages were released by Hamas while Israel freed around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The latest war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when the group attacked southern Israel, leaving 1,200 people dead.
Hamas took away 251 hostages with them.
