Israel recommences bombings in Gaza

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas ended earlier this month, leading to a resumption of airstrikes by Israel in the Gaza Strip after talks regarding the release of remaining hostages broke down. In an early Tuesday statement, the Israel...

Israel recommences bombings in Gaza
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas ended earlier this month, leading to a resumption of airstrikes by Israel in the Gaza Strip after talks regarding the release of remaining hostages broke down.

In an early Tuesday statement, the Israel Defense Forces announced they were “conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.”

According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, the strikes were prompted by “Hamas’s repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all of the proposals it has received from US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and from the mediators.” The Prime Minister’s office further indicated, “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength.”

Reports from Al Jazeera, citing Gazan Hamas-run authorities, indicate that more than 200 Palestinians have died as a result of the renewed hostilities, with Palestinian news agency Wafa noting strikes in the central and southern regions of the densely populated enclave.

A senior Hamas official, as reported by Reuters, claimed that Israel has “unilaterally” terminated the ceasefire that had been brokered by the US and Arab nations. This ceasefire, which had begun on January 19, involved Hamas releasing 25 hostages and the bodies of eight captives in exchange for approximately 1,500 Palestinians being freed from Israeli detention, according to the Associated Press.

Since the first phase of the truce lapsed on March 1, Israel and Hamas have failed to reach an agreement on subsequent actions. The Israeli government has accused Hamas of “manipulation and psychological warfare” and attributed the rejection of the American envoy Steve Witkoff's proposed plan to the militant group.

Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua mentioned to Reuters earlier this month that the group is collaborating with mediators to “compel” Israel to carry out the next stages of the ceasefire.

Thomas Evans contributed to this article for TROIB News