The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced that it is conducting large-scale airstrikes in the Gaza Strip targeting Hamas terrorist targets.
Mahmoud Abu Wafah - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in Gaza and Hamas's top security official in the territory - was killed in the latest Israeli airstrike.
This is the largest airstrike in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect on January 19. Talks to extend a ceasefire in Gaza have not reached an agreement.
Witness reports that more than 20 Israeli fighter jets have airstrikes on targets in Gaza City, Rafah and Khan Younis.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued a statement confirming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Katz had ordered the attack on the morning of March 18.
"The airstrike came after Hamas repeatedly refused to release the hostages, as well as rejected all proposals given to them by US presidential special forces behind Steve Witkoff and the intermediaries. From now on, Israel will act against Hamas with increasing military power," the statement said.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office also informed that the IDF presented a plan to attack Gaza last weekend and was accepted by the country's leaders.
Hamas responded strongly, accusing Israel of betrayal when canceling the ceasefire agreement. Israel is causing the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza to face "an unknown fate," Hamas warned.
Hamas called on intermediaries and the United Nations to intervene after the latest Israeli airstrike.
The White House spokesman told Fox News that the Trump administration had been consulted by Israel before launching the airstrike.
Traders have worked to find a solution as the first phase of a temporary ceasefire in Gaza ends on March 1.
The US has proposed extending the first ceasefire until mid-April to exchange more hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
However, a Palestinian source told the BBC that Israel and Hamas did not agree on the main contents of the deal raised by special envoy Witkoff.
The latest clash between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack that killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 251 hostages.
The Hamas attack sparked an Israeli military attack that killed more than 48,520 people in Gaza. 2.1 million people in Gaza have been displaced several times.
An estimated 70% of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, health care systems, water and sanitation systems have collapsed, and shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelters have occurred in Gaza.
