Israel launches widespread Gaza airstrikes
Israel launched widespread airstrikes in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Tuesday morning.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
“This follows Hamas’s repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all of the proposals it has received from US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and from the mediators,” Netanyahu’s office said.
“The [Israel Defense Forces ] is, at this time, 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,” the statement added. “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength.”
Mahmoud Abu Watfa, a senior Hamas Interior Ministry official in the Gaza Strip is among the dead. He was a key figure in Hamas’s efforts to rebuild its infrastructure in the civilian sector, including the Shifa Hospital.
As a precaution, Israel’s Home Front Command postponed classes in communities near the Gaza border, restricted public gatherings and suspended train service in the area of Sderot
At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 59 remaining hostages, 36 are believed to be dead.
President of the Zionist federation of Australia Jeremy Leibler, said, “everyone wanted this ceasefire to hold, but the practical reality is, the war cannot end until Hamas releases all the hostages and are removed from power in Gaza. Hamas started this war on 7 October and can end it today by releasing the hostages. Hamas bears moral and legal responsibility for endangering innocent Palestinian lives”.
CEO Alon Cassuto, said “Israel’s inherent right to self-defence is constantly challenged. No other country would be expected to sit idly by while a terrorist organisation holds, and refuses to release, 59 of their citizens hostage for 528 days.”
