Over 130 Casualties in Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza Following Ceasefire Collapse
Israeli military actions resume after Hamas's alleged rejections of mediators' offers, resulting in significant civilian casualties.
At least 130 people have been reported dead and approximately 300 injured following a series of airstrikes conducted by the Israeli military in the early hours of Tuesday against the Gaza Strip.
The escalation comes after the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accused the Islamist group Hamas of rejecting all offers from mediators regarding a ceasefire agreement.
Medical sources associated with Hamas reported the casualty figures, indicating that a significant number of the deceased are children.
The bodies of 50 victims have been documented arriving at Naser Hospital in Khan Younis, located in the southern region of Gaza.
Additional casualties were reported in Gaza City in the north and Deir al-Balah in the central area.
Gazan authorities have not provided an official tally of the casualties.
However, the Ministry of Interior issued a statement via its Telegram channel, indicating it is 'closely monitoring the situation' following a series of Israeli attacks targeting most of the Gaza Strip's governorates.
Hamas condemned the actions of Netanyahu's cabinet, alleging that the decision to revoke the ceasefire agreement endangers the remaining hostages in Gaza.
It further called on mediators to demand accountability from Netanyahu for violating the ceasefire agreement.
A statement from Hamas declared, 'We hold Netanyahu and his government responsible for the consequences of the aggression against defenseless civilians' and urged the United Nations Security Council to convene 'urgently to adopt a resolution compelling Israel to halt its aggression and comply with the resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities and the complete withdrawal of its forces.'
Islamic Jihad also criticized Netanyahu for allegedly thwarting ceasefire efforts, asserting that the announcement of resumed attacks is a |deliberate attempt to commit further atrocities.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Israeli government announced it had instructed the military to take 'vigorous measures' against Hamas, resulting in targeted bombings across several locations in Gaza.
The announcement followed what it described as Hamas's continued refusal to release Israeli hostages and its rejection of proposals from U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and other mediators.
According to the official statement from Netanyahu's office, 'From now on, Israel will act with greater military force against Hamas.' The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that operations are being expanded across the Palestinian enclave to achieve political objectives, which include the release of all hostages, dead or alive.
Plans for the resumption of military operations received approval from Israeli political leadership last week.
Additionally, the IDF announced that, along with the Shin Bet internal security service, it is 'broadly attacking terror targets of the Hamas organization throughout the Gaza Strip.' Classes have been suspended in Israeli border towns adjacent to Gaza due to the renewed military operations.
The first phase of a ceasefire agreement concluded on February 19, 2023, facilitating the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Following this, Israel sought to extend the initial phase rather than transition to the second phase, which entails the withdrawal of Israeli troops.
Hamas has insisted on adherence to the original agreement reached in January.
After the conclusion of the first phase, Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire in honor of the holy month of Ramadan but subsequently halted the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, one of the conditions of the agreement, and suspended electricity supplies.
The escalation comes after the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accused the Islamist group Hamas of rejecting all offers from mediators regarding a ceasefire agreement.
Medical sources associated with Hamas reported the casualty figures, indicating that a significant number of the deceased are children.
The bodies of 50 victims have been documented arriving at Naser Hospital in Khan Younis, located in the southern region of Gaza.
Additional casualties were reported in Gaza City in the north and Deir al-Balah in the central area.
Gazan authorities have not provided an official tally of the casualties.
However, the Ministry of Interior issued a statement via its Telegram channel, indicating it is 'closely monitoring the situation' following a series of Israeli attacks targeting most of the Gaza Strip's governorates.
Hamas condemned the actions of Netanyahu's cabinet, alleging that the decision to revoke the ceasefire agreement endangers the remaining hostages in Gaza.
It further called on mediators to demand accountability from Netanyahu for violating the ceasefire agreement.
A statement from Hamas declared, 'We hold Netanyahu and his government responsible for the consequences of the aggression against defenseless civilians' and urged the United Nations Security Council to convene 'urgently to adopt a resolution compelling Israel to halt its aggression and comply with the resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities and the complete withdrawal of its forces.'
Islamic Jihad also criticized Netanyahu for allegedly thwarting ceasefire efforts, asserting that the announcement of resumed attacks is a |deliberate attempt to commit further atrocities.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Israeli government announced it had instructed the military to take 'vigorous measures' against Hamas, resulting in targeted bombings across several locations in Gaza.
The announcement followed what it described as Hamas's continued refusal to release Israeli hostages and its rejection of proposals from U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and other mediators.
According to the official statement from Netanyahu's office, 'From now on, Israel will act with greater military force against Hamas.' The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that operations are being expanded across the Palestinian enclave to achieve political objectives, which include the release of all hostages, dead or alive.
Plans for the resumption of military operations received approval from Israeli political leadership last week.
Additionally, the IDF announced that, along with the Shin Bet internal security service, it is 'broadly attacking terror targets of the Hamas organization throughout the Gaza Strip.' Classes have been suspended in Israeli border towns adjacent to Gaza due to the renewed military operations.
The first phase of a ceasefire agreement concluded on February 19, 2023, facilitating the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Following this, Israel sought to extend the initial phase rather than transition to the second phase, which entails the withdrawal of Israeli troops.
Hamas has insisted on adherence to the original agreement reached in January.
After the conclusion of the first phase, Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire in honor of the holy month of Ramadan but subsequently halted the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, one of the conditions of the agreement, and suspended electricity supplies.
