Israel Strikes Gaza, Rescuers Report 121 Killed

Israel's air campaign was launched in response to Hamas' continued refusal to release hostages and its rejection of several proposals from US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and international mediators. Netanyahu’s office stated that the operation "will continue as long as necessary and may expand beyond airstrikes."

Hamas, in turn, condemned the actions, accusing Netanyahu's government of violating the ceasefire agreement and endangering prisoners in Gaza. "The extremist government has decided to overturn the ceasefire agreement, exposing prisoners to an uncertain fate," Hamas stated.

The ceasefire, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, had initially been agreed upon on January 19 after more than 15 months of fighting sparked by Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. While the first phase of the ceasefire ended in March, both sides have been unable to reach an agreement on the next steps, despite ongoing negotiations.

The Israeli army confirmed that it was conducting “extensive strikes on terror targets” in Gaza. The Gaza Civil Defence agency reported over 121 deaths, with more than 150 others wounded in the latest round of violence, which included aerial bombardment and artillery shelling. In response, Israel closed all schools in areas near Gaza, and officials pledged to intensify military actions against Hamas.

On Sunday, Witkoff proposed a "bridge proposal" for the release of five living hostages, including Israeli-American Edan Alexander, in exchange for the release of a "substantial number" of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Hamas had agreed to free Alexander and the remains of four others but rejected Witkoff’s broader proposal. Hamas described the response as "unacceptable," and Witkoff warned that time is running out to secure an agreement.

Since the first phase of the truce, Hamas has released 33 hostages, including eight deceased individuals, while Israel has freed around 1,800 Palestinian detainees. However, the two sides remain at a deadlock. Israel insists on extending the first phase until mid-April, demanding the complete demilitarization of Gaza and the removal of Hamas, while Hamas is calling for negotiations on a second phase that would involve the release of all remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

The situation has escalated, with Israel cutting aid and electricity to Gaza amid the stalled talks. Former Israeli captive Omer Shem Tov, who was freed, shared his anguish, saying, “It’s so hard for me to think about what they’re going through right now because I know that feeling. It’s a terrible feeling, and it has to stop as soon as possible.”

The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in 1,218 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, while Israel's retaliatory actions in Gaza have led to at least 48,572 deaths, also predominantly civilians, according to both sides' reports.