Hamas Reports Over 400 Killed in Israeli Strikes on Gaza———Israel carried out a wave of “extensive strikes” on the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledging that “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength.”
The strikes killed 413 people and left a further 660 injured, Gaza’s Health Ministry told The Associated Press (AP). Four senior officials, including two top police officers, in the Hamas administration were killed in the strikes, the Hamas-run government media office said.
Israeli officials said the operation was open-ended and was expected to expand. The White House said it had been consulted and supported Israel’s actions. Hamas said the strikes breached the ceasefire deal and endangered the remaining hostages it is holding.
The Context
The strikes mark the most significant escalation in Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip since Israel and the militant group Hamas reached a tenuous ceasefire agreement nearly two months ago.
Hamas has accused Israel of violating the fragile truce hundreds of times since it went into effect in January.
Nearly 50,000 Palestinians have died since the war began, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry, the AP reported. Millions have been displaced. Much of Gaza has also been destroyed since the war was first launched in October 2023 following the worst ever Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. The initial October 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
What To Know
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli Security Agency (ISA) announced the latest wave of strikes early Tuesday local time.
Israel is “currently conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip,” they said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that “the Trump administration and the White House were consulted by the Israelis on their attacks in Gaza tonight.”
