‘This follows Hamas’s repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all of the proposals it has received,’ the Israeli prime minister’s office stated
The Israel’s 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,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated. “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength.”
The Associated Press reported that “it was not immediately clear if the operation was a one-time pressure tactic or if the 17-month-old war was being resumed altogether.” (The AP reported that at least 44 people were killed in the strikes, citing data from the Gaza health ministry, which the Hamas terror organization runs.)
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.”