At least 250 Palestinians were reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza in the latest night of violence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the operation was carried out to achieve the country’s war objectives, including the release of all hostages. The Hamas, however, described the attack as a “grave violation of all international and humanitarian conventions”.
In a statement, Netanyahu said the attack was agreed upon with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, after the Hamas repeatedly refused to release Israeli hostages and rejected all proposals from the US President’s envoy, Steve Witkoff and the mediator.
Israel will now proceed with increased military strength against the Hamas, according to the Prime Minister’s office.
The Hamas-led government in the Gaza Strip has called on the international community to break its silence and take immediate measures to prevent the Israeli attacks. The government stated that humanitarian efforts are being hindered by a lack of fuel, as Israel controls the import of goods and services into the Gaza Strip and blocks humanitarian aid. The power has also been cut off.
Representatives of the Palestinian Health Ministry said many of the dead were children. The Israeli army claimed to have targeted dozens of “terror targets”. Israel has restricted the access of international journalists to the Gaza Strip, making an independent verification of the death toll impossible.
Before its latest attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip, Israel had reportedly coordinated with Washington. Israel had “consulted with the government of US President Donald Trump and the White House before its attacks last night”, said the White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, to Fox News on Monday.
The Hamas insisted that the first phase of the agreement, as planned, should be followed by a second phase in which a “permanent ceasefire” is declared between the warring parties and the Israeli army fully withdraws from the Gaza Strip. However, Netanyahu is resisting, partly due to internal political reasons, as his coalition is at risk of breaking if Israel fully ends the war in Gaza.