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 reached a “dead end” with hostage negotiations and that they “had no alternative but to give the order to re-open fire.”
The temporary ceasefire was brokered in January, pausing the war that had started on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas killed over 1,200 civilians while taking over 240 people hostage in a surprise attack.
While then-President Joe Biden helped broker the deal, then-President Elect Donald Trump took credit for the ceasefire, claiming it was due to his victory. Since taking office, Trump placed pressure on Hamas to release the hostages, issuing a demand that the terrorist group release the remaining persons “immediately” in a “last warning” Mar. 5 on Truth Social.
“RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!,” Trump said in his post. Additionally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised in February to “open the gates of hell” if Hamas did not agree to release the hostages.
The Gaza Health Ministry has claimed over 61,000 people have died in Gaza since the war began up till Feb. 3, however the official death count has been disputed.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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