Israel Pounds Gaza With Airstrikes After Hamas Ceasefire Breaks Down Over Hostage Talks

Israel launched a massive wave of airstrikes on Gaza Monday night following a breakdown in ceasefire talks over the release of hostages.

The Israeli government said the airstrikes were ordered in response to Hamas’ rejection of two mediation proposals from U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff that would have allowed for more hostages to be released, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s X page Monday.

“The IDF is striking Hamas terrorist targets across the Gaza Strip, aiming to achieve the war’s objectives, which include the release of all our hostages, the dismantling of Hamas’s military and governmental infrastructure, and the removal of the terrorist threat from Gaza to Israel’s security and its citizens,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry wrote. “From this point forward, Israel will act against Hamas with increasing military intensity.”

Israel has claimed to have successfully hit dozens of targets in the strip, and has indicated that the offensive may include resumed ground operations. The military also ordered the evacuation of much of eastern Gaza, including the town of Beit Hanoun in the north and others in the south. The Gaza Health Ministry has claimed over 400 people died and 600 were injured in the airstrikes so far, but the official count has been disputed, according to NBC News.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar claimed that the sides had