Β Israeli airstrikesΒ pounded Gaza, killing more than 400 people, Palestinian health authorities said on Tuesday, threatening the complete collapse of a two-month ceasefire as Israel vowed to use more force to free hostages held by Hamas.
The Palestinian militant group, which still holds 59 of the 250 or so hostages seized in itsΒ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire and jeopardising efforts by mediators to secure a permanent truce.
Israelβs prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he had told the military to take βstrong actionβ against Hamas in response to the groupβs refusal to release the remaining hostages and because of their rejection of ceasefire proposals.
The Israeli military described the attacks as a βpreemptive offensiveβ aimed at thwarting Hamasβ ability to launch attacks against Israel and to rebuild and rearm its forces. It said it targeted βmid-ranking military commanders, leadership officials and terrorist infrastructureβ belonging to Hamas.
Israeli strikes kill over 400 in Gaza, say Palestinians, ceasefire on brink https://t.co/Wibnvz78vf
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