The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) resumed fighting against Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday after negotiations with the Palestinian Islamic terrorist organization for the release of hostages and the continuation of the truce, which began on January 19, failed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that it has ordered "strong measures against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip" due to the group's repeated refusal to release the hostages it still holds.
The statement also cites Hamas's "rejection of all offers it received from U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and mediators" to extend the first phase of the ceasefire, which ended two weeks ago without an agreement to continue it, as the reason for the ceasefire's dissolution.
"The IDF is currently attacking Hamas terrorist organization targets throughout the Gaza Strip to achieve the war's objectives, as determined by the political leadership, including the release of all our hostages, both living and deceased," the Prime Minister's Office statement said.
"From now on, Israel will act against Hamas with increasing military force," the statement added, adding that the "operational plan" for returning to war "was presented last weekend by the IDF and approved by the political leadership."
The news comes after Netanyahu announced a delegation would travel to Cairo to continue negotiating a ceasefire with Hamas.
Agencies contributed to this Aurora article
Finally! And long live Israel, damn it!