Israel Carries Out ‘Extensive Strikes’ in Gaza, Imperiling Stop-Fireplace Deal

Israeli forces launched a large-scale strike throughout the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, in what gave the impression to be the primary main assault on the territory since Israel’s ceasefire with Hamas started roughly two months in the past.

The Israel Protection Forces mentioned on Telegram simply earlier than 2:30 a.m. native time that it and the Israeli Safety Company have been “conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.” The assault was ordered by Israel’s political management, it mentioned.

Shortly afterward, Hamas mentioned in a press release that the Israeli authorities had “resumed their aggression” within the Gaza Strip. It was unclear whether or not the strikes successfully ended the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that took impact in mid-January.

The workplace of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, mentioned in a press release that he and the protection minister, Israel Katz, had instructed the navy to behave, citing “repeated refusal” by Hamas “to release our hostages” and saying the militants had rejected all proposals from Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy to the Center East, and different mediators.

“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” the assertion mentioned.

Mediators, together with america, Qatar and Egypt, have been concerned in negotiating the following steps within the ceasefire settlement, which might contain a everlasting finish to the battle. However they’ve made little headway, given the entrenched disagreements between the 2 sides. Israel started attacking Gaza shortly after the Hamas-led assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Because the ceasefire took impact, the Israeli navy has performed a string of smaller strikes on Gaza, which Hamas claims have killed greater than 150 folks, a few of them civilians. It has accused Israel of repeatedly violating the truce settlement by persevering with navy operations.

This text initially appeared in The New York Occasions.

Initially Revealed: March 17, 2025 at 7:02 PM PDT