Israel resumes Gaza strikes: Ceasefire shattered, tensions rise
Hamas spoke out after Israel broke the truce. "Netanyahu and his extremist government have decided to overturn the ceasefire agreement and are exposing the prisoners in Gaza to an unknown fate," the statement reads.
The organization declared in a statement on Telegram that Netanyahu and the Zionist forces are fully responsible for the consequences of the attack on Gaza.
Early on Tuesday morning, Israel began bombing the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz announced the end of the ceasefire and declared the resumption of war in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military reported that the Israel Defence Forces and Shin Bet are currently conducting extensive attacks on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
A senior Hamas official told Reuters that the Israeli attacks mean that Israel is unilaterally ending the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which has been in place since January 19. According to local sources, there are already over 300 casualties from the Israeli attacks.
The statement also called on mediators to hold Netanyahu fully responsible for violating and nullifying the ceasefire agreement.
Despite the end of the first phase of the ceasefire in early March, the parties did not reach an agreement on its extension. According to Israeli data, Hamas is holding 24 hostages and the bodies of 35 dead, abducted on October 7, 2023.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to continue negotiations with Hamas. This decision was made after a Saturday meeting involving representatives of the Israeli government and the military. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted an in-depth discussion on the hostages this evening with the negotiating team and the heads of the armed forces," the Prime Minister's Office announced.
Israeli media reported that Katz said that "the gates of hell will open for Gaza" if Hamas does not release all the hostages in Palestine. - The murderers and rapists will meet the IDF with forces they have never known before," added Israel's Defence Minister.
