Israel conducts ‘huge airstrikes’ on Hamas in Gaza, cites stalled ceasefire talks

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – Israel on Tuesday launched a series of heavy airstrikes on Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip, marked the first major military operation since the ceasefire began on January 19.

The renewed offensive began after the collapse of truce negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

According to medical officials in Gaza, at least 66 people were killed and more than 150 others injured in multiple strikes across northern Gaza, Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, Rafah, and Gaza City.

The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed the attacks, stated that they were carried out in coordination with the Israeli Security Agency.

 Israeli military announced on X. “In accordance with the political echelon, the IDF and ISA are currently conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office later justified the military action, attributed it to “Hamas’s repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all of the proposals it has received from US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and from the mediators.”

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have instructed the IDF to take strong action against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip,” the statement read.

Netanyahu’s office stated that the IDF is attacking targets of the Hamas terrorist organization throughout the Gaza Strip “in order to achieve the objectives of the war as they have been determined by the political echelon including the release of all of our hostages, the living and the deceased.”

“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength. The operational plan was presented by the IDF over the weekend and approved by the political leadership,” the statement added.

The latest escalation came as truce talks faltered over disagreements on the terms of the ceasefire’s next phase.

Israel had sought to extend the first phase of the three-stage agreement, while Hamas insisted on progressing to the second phase, which was supposed to begin on March 2 and involve further hostage releases.

During the initial phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas still holds around 59 hostages.

Hamas suggested that they would free American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander along with the remains of four hostages on the condition that Israel promptly agrees to discuss the next phase of the deal.

Israel rejected the proposal, accused Hamas of conducting “psychological warfare” against the families of those held captive.

The conflict in Gaza erupted on October 7, 2023, after Hamas launched a cross-border attack into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing 251 hostages.

Israel has pursued a relentless military campaign against Hamas.