Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz instruct the IDF to act forcefully against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Dozens of targets struck from the air, senior officials eliminated. Hamas claims 308 dead.
The IDF and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) began conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip early Tuesday morning, in accordance with the political echelon, said the IDF and Shin Bet in a joint statement.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Information Ministry claimed that at least 250 were killed in the Israeli strikes, which reportedly hit dozens of targets. It later updated the number to 308.
Sources in the Gaza Strip told Kan 11 News that Mahmoud Abu Watfa, head of Hamas’s internal security apparatus in Gaza, was eliminated in the Israeli strikes. It was also reported that Mohammed Abu Ubaida al-Jammasi, a member of Hamas’s political bureau in the Gaza Strip, was eliminated as well.
Palestinian Arab sources reported that Issam al-Da’alis, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, was also eliminated in the strikes.
The strikes were overseen by IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar from the Kirya base in Tel Aviv.
The Prime Minister’s Office said that “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.”
“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.
“The IDF is, at this time, 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 concluded.
Defense Minister Israel Katz commented on the resumption of fighting in Gaza and said, “Tonight, we resumed fighting in Gaza due to Hamas’s refusal to release the hostages and its threats to harm IDF soldiers and Israeli communities.”
Katz added, “If Hamas does not release all the hostages, the gates of hell will open in Gaza, and the murderers and rapists of Hamas will face the IDF with intensities they have never known before. We will not stop fighting until all the hostages return home and all the war objectives are achieved.”
Later in the morning, the Defense Minister ordered the closure of the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt. In the wake of the resumption of the fighting in Gaza, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced that following a situational assessment, changes were made to the IDF Home Front Command’s defensive guidelines as of 2:00 a.m. Tuesday. As part of the changes, the areas of the communities near the Gaza Strip will change from Full Activity to Limited activity, meaning educational activity will not be allowed.
The areas of the Western Negev and Western Lachish remains unchanged – Full Activity.
Following instructions from security officials, train service between the Ashkelon and Sderot stations has been temporarily suspended, and a shuttle system will operate between them.
Ashkelon Mayor Tomer Glam ordered increased alertness in the city and the reinforcement of security teams.
The Ashkelon Municipality stated: “At the moment, there are no changes to the Home Front Command guidelines in Ashkelon and the routine in the city continues. That being said, it is important to remain highly vigilant and alert. We remind everyone that the public bomb shelters are open and ready for any incident.”
The Hamas terrorist organization responded to the renewed Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.
“Netanyahu and Israel bear full responsibility for the consequences of the treacherous aggression in Gaza. Netanyahu and his extremist government are making a decision to reverse the ceasefire agreement, and are exposing the hostages in Gaza to an unknown fate. We demand that the mediators hold Netanyahu and Israel fully responsible for violating the agreement and canceling it,” the organization said.
The resumption of fighting came two days after Netanyahu, following an in-depth discussion on the matter of the hostages, attended by ministers, the negotiating team, and the leaders of Israel’s defense echelon, instructed the negotiating team to prepare for continued talks for the immediate release of 11 living hostages and approximately half of the deceased hostages, as per the mediators’ response to Witkoff’s proposal.
On Friday, Witkoff said that Hamas is making “unrealistic” demands behind the scenes, despite publicly expressing willingness to release hostage Edan Alexander and the remains of four dual-citizen hostages.
“Hamas is making a very poor gamble by believing that time is on its side. That is not the case. Hamas is well aware of the deadline and must understand that we will respond accordingly if it passes,” Witkoff warned.
He added, “According to the mediation proposal, Hamas will release live hostages in exchange for prisoners based on previous formulas. The first stage of the ceasefire will be extended to allow for the resumption of significant humanitarian aid, and the US will work to achieve a stable solution to the ongoing conflict during the extended ceasefire period.”
“Unfortunately, Hamas has chosen to respond by publicly declaring flexibility while secretly presenting demands that are completely impossible without a permanent ceasefire,” he stated. On Thursday, it was reported that under Witkoff’s newest proposal, the ceasefire would be extended by 50 days and Israel would release convicted terrorists, in exchange for the release of a number of hostages.
During this period, talks would resume on the deal’s second stage, which would see Israel withdraw completely from Gaza, despite Hamas’ repeated violations of the ceasefire.
