Israel launches ‘in depth strikes’ on Gaza with no less than 220 reportedly killed

The Israeli army says it’s finishing up “in depth strikes” within the Gaza Strip, with the Hamas-run well being ministry reporting that no less than 220 Palestinians have been killed.

The Israel Protection Forces (IDF) mentioned it was focusing on what it known as “terror targets” belonging to Hamas.

Mahmoud Abu Wafah, the deputy inside minister in Gaza and the highest-ranking Hamas safety official within the territory, has reportedly been killed in a strike.

That is the most important wave of airstrikes in Gaza for the reason that ceasefire started on 19 January. Talks to increase the Gaza ceasefire have failed to succeed in an settlement.

Many individuals had been having their pre-dawn meal, attributable to it being the holy month of Ramadan, when explosions began in Gaza, witnesses say.

Greater than 20 Israeli struggle planes flew over, they mentioned. The planes then started to hit targets in Gaza Metropolis, Rafah and Khan Younis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the strikes on Tuesday morning, in accordance with an announcement from the PM’s workplace.

“This follows Hamas’s repeated refusal to launch our hostages, in addition to its rejection of all the proposals it has acquired from US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and from the mediators,” it mentioned.

“Israel will, to any extent further, act in opposition to Hamas with growing army power,” it added.

The plan for the strikes “was introduced by the IDF over the weekend and permitted by the political management”, it mentioned.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, warned Hamas to launch all of the hostages, stating “we’ll present no mercy on our enemies”.

Hamas has responded furiously, accusing Israel of treachery for overturning the ceasefire settlement. It additionally says Israel is exposing the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza to “an unknown destiny”.

However Hamas has not but declared that it’s resuming the struggle, as a substitute calling on mediators and the United Nations to intervene.

US President Donald Trump’s administration was consulted by Israel previous to finishing up the strikes, a White Home spokesperson informed Fox Information.

Negotiators have been looking for a method ahead after the primary section of the momentary truce ended on 1 March.

The US proposed extending the primary section till mid-April, together with an extra trade of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

However a Palestinian official accustomed to the talks informed the BBC that Israel and Hamas disagreed over key features of the deal set out by Witkoff on the oblique talks.

The newest struggle between Israel and Hamas began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas killed greater than 1,200 folks in southern Israel, principally civilians, with 251 taken hostage.

The assault triggered an Israeli army offensive that has since killed greater than 48,520 folks, most of them civilians, in accordance with figures from the Hamas-run well being ministry that are utilized by the UN and others.

Most of Gaza’s 2.1 million inhabitants has been displaced a number of occasions.

An estimated 70% of buildings have been broken or destroyed, healthcare, water, and sanitation techniques have collapsed and there are shortages of meals, gas, drugs and shelter.