Israel has been accused of ending the ceasefire after over 200 including children were were killed in a series of air strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza.
A senior Hamas official said Israel unilaterally overturned the ceasefire that began on January 19.
The Israeli army did not provide more details about the ‘extensive strikes’ but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement saying the military had been instructed to ‘take strong action against the Hamas terrorist organization’.
‘This follows 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,’ the statement added.
‘Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength.’
Three houses were hit in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, a building in Gaza City, and targets in Khan Younis and Rafah, according to medics and witnesses.
The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said there were at least 35 airstrikes on Gaza, with its ministry of health saying at least 44 people have been killed and dozens more injured in the strikes.
The Gaza health ministry later said that toll had risen to more than 200.
It is confirmed that White House was consulted by Israel prior to the strikes.
The strikes come after nearly two months of a ceasefire to pause the 17-month long war where dozens of hostages were released for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
