Israel launches surprise attack across Gaza, declares to step up campaign

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that from now on, Israel will act against Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip with increased military force.

The Times of Israel reported on March 18 that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is conducting attacks across Gaza after receiving orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz to "take strong action" against Hamas, accusing Hamas of refusing to release Israeli hostages.

The IDF attacks appeared to mark the return of Israel's military campaign against Hamas, which had stopped when a ceasefire began on January 19, although the statement from the Prime Minister's Office did not specify this.

Israel launches fierce airstrikes in Gaza, killing more than 400 people

"Following political direction, the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel's domestic intelligence agency) are aggressively striking Hamas terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip," the IDF and Shin Bet said in a joint statement later, adding that additional details would be provided soon.

Mr Netanyahu's office said Hamas "has rejected every offer it has received" from US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and other mediators.

Smoke rises during airstrikes on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on February 12, 2024.

Hamas wants to maintain the original terms of the truce, which is expected to enter a second phase early this month. Under that phase, Israel would withdraw completely from Gaza and agree to a permanent end to hostilities in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages.

Meanwhile, Israel wanted to extend phase one to allow for the return of more hostages. As a result, Israel refused to negotiate the terms of phase two, which was supposed to begin on February 3. However, the ceasefire remained in place for about two and a half weeks while the mediators worked to negotiate new terms for the extension.

Accepting Israel's objections to phase two, Mr Witkoff presented a bridge proposal last week, under which phase one would be extended by several weeks, during which the two surviving hostages would be released.

The US envoy later said Hamas' response to the proposal was "non-starter" and warned of imminent consequences if Hamas did not change its approach.

In a statement about the airstrike, Netanyahu's office said the aim of the attack was to achieve Israel's war objectives, including dismantling Hamas' military and administrative capabilities and releasing the hostages.

Families of the hostages have long argued that those goals are contradictory and that returning to hostilities would endanger their loved ones.

“From now on, Israel will act against Hamas with increased military force,” Netanyahu’s office said, adding that plans to restore IDF operations were approved by the political class last week.

According to Reuters, the Palestinian Civil Emergency Authority said on March 18 that at least 30 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, adding that Israel had carried out at least 35 airstrikes on the strip.

Reuters quoted a senior Hamas official accusing Israel of unilaterally ending the ceasefire agreement.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/israel-bat-ngo-tan-cong-khap-gaza-tuyen-bo-day-manh-chien-dich-185250318080545601.htm