On Tuesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel had fully resumed hostilities against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The official warned that "negotiations will only continue under fire" and that "this is just the beginning." This was reported by UNN with reference to the BBC.
Details
He made these comments after Israeli aircraft launched massive airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza, the military said. The airstrikes hit Beit Lahia, Rafah, Nuseirat, and Al-Mawasi. This wave of strikes was the most powerful since the ceasefire began on January 19, but the incident could indicate that the fragile truce may be broken.
Israel will continue to fight to achieve all its military goals – "to bring back the hostages, to get rid of Hamas, and to make sure that Hamas is not a threat to Israel."
The Hamas Ministry of Health reported that more than 400 people were killed and hundreds more were injured in the attack.
Key Hamas figures were also killed in the airstrikes, including Major General Mahmoud Abu Watfa, Deputy Minister of Interior in Gaza, and a senior Hamas security official.
Addition
The full ceasefire agreement involved three phases. The first phase concluded in early March after numerous exchanges of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Negotiations for the second phase were supposed to begin six weeks ago, but this did not happen.
The truce agreement and its further progress became uncertain after the US and Israel wanted to change the terms of the agreement to extend the first phase, which would lead to the release of more hostages. However, according to Benjamin Netanyahu, he tried to negotiate a further exchange, but Hamas rejected the proposals each time.
This, in turn, would have delayed the start of the second phase, which aimed to establish a permanent ceasefire and would have required Israel to withdraw its troops from Gaza.
According to officials, Israel consulted with the administration of US President Donald Trump before launching the strikes.
In turn, Hamas warned that the resumption of hostilities by Israel would lead to a "death sentence" for the remaining living hostages in Gaza, and accused Israel of trying to force it to surrender.
World reaction
The attacks on Gaza were condemned by Egypt, which is mediating the negotiations.
The airstrikes are a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire agreement and represent a "dangerous escalation."
Hamas could have released the hostages to extend the truce, but instead chose rejection and war.
The attacks were so sudden that the number of available medical personnel was insufficient for the scale of these large strikes, and additional teams were immediately called in for assistance.
A group representing the families of the hostages accused the Israeli government of choosing to "abandon the hostages" by launching new strikes, and protested outside the Israeli parliament.
Recall
Earlier, UNN wrote that the UN is sounding the alarm after new massive Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.