The Israeli army said early Tuesday that it has conducted airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, the largest since a ceasefire with the Palestinian group Hamas took effect on Jan. 19.
"Based on directives from the political echelon, IDF and Shin Bet forces are launching a large-scale attack on Hamas terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip," military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X.
Local media, citing the Palestinian civil emergency service, said at least 200 people have been killed, including women and children.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have instructed the army to take "strong action" against Hamas in Gaza, the Prime Ministry's Office said.
"This follows 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," it said in a statement.
The army is attacking Hamas targets in the Strip "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."
"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 added.
Hamas said the Israeli government has declared war on Gaza by breaking the ceasefire agreement.
"We demand that the mediators hold Netanyahu and the Zionist occupation fully responsible for violating and overturning the agreement," it said in a statement.
Israel consulted with US: White House
A White House spokesperson confirmed Monday that Israel consulted with the US on its airstrikes in Gaza.
"As President (Donald) Trump has made it clear: Hamas, the Houthis, Iran, all those who seek to terrorize not just Israel, but also the United States of America, will see a price to pay. All hell will break loose," Karoline Leavitt told Fox News.
Ahead of a meeting Tuesday of the UN Security Council on Gaza, Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said the country will show "no mercy" against its enemies.
"Let me be very clear: Israel will not stop until all of our hostages are back home. We will make it very clear to the Security Council that if they want to stop the war in Gaza, they have to ensure that the hostages are coming back to Israel," Danon said.
The UN did not immediately react to the strikes, but deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the UN has consistently warned against a return to fighting in Gaza.
Despite the ceasefire, local authorities in Gaza had reported almost daily violations by the Israeli army.
Israeli attacks have killed more than 48,500 Palestinians since October 2023, most of them women and children, and left Gaza in ruins.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
Source: Anadolu Agency
BDST: 1124 HRS, March 18, 2025
MN
