Netanyahu ends ceasefire: Gaza bombings reignite conflict
Hamas spoke out after the ceasefire was broken by Israel. "Netanyahu and his government have decided to annul the ceasefire agreement, exposing captives in Gaza to an uncertain fate," the statement reads.
"We hold the criminal Netanyahu and the Zionist enemy fully responsible for the consequences of the treacherous aggression on Gaza," the terrorist organization wrote in a statement posted on Telegram.
Early Tuesday morning, Israel began bombing the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the end of the ceasefire and declared the resumption of the war in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military reported that the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet are currently conducting extensive attacks on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
A senior Hamas official told Reuters that the Israeli attacks mean Israel is unilaterally ending the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which has been in effect since January 19. According to local sources, there are already more than 300 victims of the Israeli attacks.
"We demand that mediators hold Netanyahu fully accountable for the violation and annulment of the cease-fire agreement," it was added.
Despite the end of the first phase of the ceasefire in early March, the parties did not reach an agreement on its extension. According to Israeli sources, Hamas is holding 24 hostages and the bodies of 35 individuals who were kidnapped on October 7, 2023.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to continue negotiations with Hamas. This decision followed a Saturday meeting with representatives of the Israeli government and military. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted a thorough discussion this evening on the hostages with the participation of the negotiation team and the heads of the armed forces," the prime minister's office reported.
Israeli media reported that Katz said, "the gates of hell will open for Gaza" if Hamas does not release all hostages in Palestine and that we will send forces against Hamas like it has never seen before, added the Israeli defense minister.
