Israel resumes airstrikes in Gaza, ending fragile truce

Israeli authorities emphasised that the large-scale strikes are aimed at the civilian and military hierarchy of Hamas and are a consequence of the "repeated refusal to release" hostages held by that group.

The Israeli government, in a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, announced that military operations against Hamas will intensify.

In turn, Hamas accused Israel of violating the January truce and issuing a "death sentence" on hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip.

Ezzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas's political bureau, stated that Netanyahu's decision to resume military operations amounts to sacrificing prisoners and sentencing them to death. He asserted that Israel would not achieve through war and destruction what it had failed to accomplish through negotiations, as reported by CNN.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated after the resumption of attacks that "the gates of hell will open in Gaza," and Hamas will be hit with force "never seen before," reported the Times of Israel.

He added that fighting in Gaza has resumed due to Hamas's refusal to release hostages and its threats against IDF soldiers and Israeli communities. He emphasized that military operations will continue until all hostages are returned and the war's objectives are fully achieved.

"As President 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," the White House spokesperson said.

The Israeli Defence Forces announced that they conducted dozens of strikes in various parts of the Gaza Strip. Their targets were mid-level Hamas commanders, members of its political bureau, and infrastructure controlled by the group, it was conveyed.

Earlier, the Israeli military announced that it detected Hamas preparations for attacks against Israel and efforts aimed at "regrouping and rearming."

The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was in effect from 19 January. Although Israeli forces still conducted attacks that resulted in deaths almost daily, these were not on such a large scale, and regular fighting had ceased. In total, over nearly two months, around 150 people were killed.

The first phase of the ceasefire formally expired at the beginning of March. During negotiations in Cairo, Israel and the USA sought to extend the ceasefire in exchange for the release of more Hamas hostages. Hamas demanded the initiation of negotiations for a permanent end to the war, as stipulated in the original agreement timeline.

The war in the Gaza Strip broke out after a Hamas attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. Approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 251 were taken hostage. 24 hostages remain alive in captivity. Hamas is also holding the bodies of 35 abducted. In the Israeli retaliatory operation, over 48,000 Gaza Strip residents were killed. Palestinian territory is devastated, and the majority of its 2.1 million residents have become internal refugees.