The Palestinian Hamas group has denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for “sacrificing” Israeli hostages after a fresh strike shaking this morning, raising doubts about future ceasefires. Israeli citizens are still being held.
Israel resumed a massive strike in Gaza this morning, shaking down a calm period negotiated during the January truce.
“Netanyahu’s decision to resume the war is to sacrifice the prisoners of the occupying and impose them the death penalty,” the official Prime Minister of Hamas Izat Al-Rishuk, accusing the prime minister of using the conflict as a political “lifeboat” to distract him from the internal crisis.
Israeli forces announced a “massive attack” on Hamas’ targets this morning, ordering all schools to close in Gaza. The White House later confirmed that the US had been consulted prior to the attack during Ramzan’s fasting month.
Gaza’s Hamaslan Health Ministry said the strike killed at least 330 people, including women, children and elderly people. Plus, dozens are in danger.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office said it was followed by “hostages of Hamas’ repeated rejection (Israel) and rejection of all proposals received from the US President Emvoice Steve Witkov and mediators.”
“Israel will now act against Hamas, increasing its military strength,” he declared.
Hamas said the attack reflected Netanyahu’s decision to “overturn the ceasefire agreement” and its decision to expose Gaza hostages to “unknown fate.” It said it would retain a prime minister responsible for the impact of the attack on Gaza.
The attack casts attacks on ceasefire talks on both sides in order to end the year-long conflict caused by Hamas’ attack on the Israeli town in October 2023.
The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire was mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States. It came into effect in January and ended in early March, during which time both sides refrained from escalating violence.
The new swap offer came from Steve Witkoff, the US Middle Eastern envoy. Under that, five Israeli hostages could be released in exchange for “substantial” Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.
