At least 330 Palestinians are dead after a series of Israeli air strikes on Gaza ended a weeks-long standoff over extending the ceasefire.
The Israeli military, which reported it hit dozens of targets, said the attacks would continue for as long as necessary.
It comes after Hamas issued a statement accusing Israel of breaching the terms of the truce agreed on January 19.
Strikes were reported in multiple locations, including northern Gaza, Gaza City and the Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah in central and southern Gaza Strip. Palestinian health ministry officials said many of the dead were children.
In hospitals strained by 15 months of bombardment, piles of bodies in white plastic sheets could be seen stacked up as casualties were brought in.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of ‘repeated refusal to release our hostages’ and rejecting proposals from U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.
‘Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,’ it said in a statement.
In Washington, a White House spokesman said Israel had consulted the U.S. administration before it carried out the strikes, which the military claimed targeted mid-level Hamas commanders and leadership officials.
‘Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war,’ White House spokesman Brian Hughes said.
In Gaza, witnesses contacted by said Israeli tanks shelled areas in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, forcing many families who had returned to their areas after the ceasefire began to leave their homes and head north to Khan Younis.
This is a breaking news story. More to come
