The Israeli military conducted “extensive” strikes against Hamas terror targets in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces announced early on Tuesday morning.
“This follows Hamas’s repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all of the proposals it has received from U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and from the mediators,” the Israeli prime minister’s office stated.
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,” Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated. “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that Jerusalem consulted the Trump administration ahead of resuming heavy strikes in Gaza.
U.S. President Donald Trump “has made it clear. Hamas, the Houthis, Iran, all those who seek to terrorize not just Israel but also the United States of America will see a price to pay. All hell will break loose,” Leavitt said.
All of “the terrorists in the Middle East” should take Trump “very seriously when he says he is not afraid to stand for law-abiding people… and our friend and our ally Israel,” she added.
Al Jazeera and other Arab media reported that Mahmoud Abu Watfa, a deputy minister in the Hamas-run Ministry of Interior in Gaza, was among the top terrorists killed on Tuesday.
Sada El-Balad, an Egyptian television station, reported that Abu Obeida al-Jamasi, a member of Hamas’s political bureau and head of its emergency committee, was also killed in the series of airstrikes.
Al Hadath, a Saudi news channel, was among those reporting on the slaying of Bahjat Abu Sultan, head of central operations in the Hamas-run Interior Ministry.
Meanwhile, the IDF Home Front Command has instructed municipalities near the border with Gaza to halt close schools until further notice.
“Following a situation assessment, it was decided that the Gaza envelope will move from a full activity level to a reduced activity level, which does not allow for educational activities,” the statement said.
Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, stated on Monday night in New York that “the Security Council will convene tomorrow to discuss the situation in Gaza.”
“It is time for the countries of the world to take seriously our unwavering commitment to bring back all our hostages home and defeat the enemy,” the Israeli envoy stated. “Nothing will stop us from fighting to free our hostages who have been held in brutal Hamas captivity for 527 days. We will show no mercy against our enemies while our hostages languish in Hamas terror tunnels.”
An Israeli official “claimed that in recent days during the ceasefire Hamas has been preparing to carry out new attacks against Israel and has taken steps to rearm,” Axios reported. “The official said the IDF kept the operational plan top secret and within a relatively small circle in order to surprise Hamas.”
“Hamas could have ended the war in Gaza months ago by surrendering and freeing the hostages. Hamas could have extended the ceasefire deal by accepting the U.S. proposals that Israel accepted,” AIPAC stated. “Hamas chose to continue the war and hold 59 people hostage. Hamas is responsible.”
David Friedman, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, wrote that “Gaza was given every opportunity to exchange hostages for peace.”
“Israel agreed to lopsided exchange rates of anywhere from 30 to 100 terrorists released for every Israeli hostage. But that wasn’t good enough for Hamas,” he stated. “It thought it could remain in power and continue to torture Jews for years to come. Well the clock has struck midnight on Gaza, and Hamas is about to sent to hell where it belongs.”
Marc Zell, chairman of Republicans Overseas Israel, wrote that “there are reports that ground forces are preparing to deploy in Gaza at any moment. At least one of my sons has been called up today.”