At least 200 people were killed in Gaza on Tuesday as the Israeli military conducted "extensive strikes" on Hamas targets after weeks of truce talks stalled, the biggest attack in the war-torn territory since the ceasefire began on January 19, reports NDTV.
Gaza's civil defence agency said the air strikes, which took place during the month of Ramadan, killed "mostly children, women, and the elderly" and injured about 150 others.
The explosions were heard in multiple locations, including northern Gaza, Gaza City and the Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah in central and southern Gaza Strip.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in a post on X on Tuesday, said it was "conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation in the Gaza Strip" in accordance with the "political echelon".
Israel also ordered all schools close to the regions neighbouring Gaza shut.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office later said the strikes were ordered after "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."
"The IDF 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," it posted on X.
Israel would now act with "increased military strength" against Hamas, it said.
Hamas, however, held Mr Netanyahu "fully responsible for violating and overturning the agreement" and said he has decided to "sacrifice" hostages by resuming war.
The ceasefire breach "exposes the prisoners in Gaza to an unknown fate", it said in a statement.
A White House spokesperson said Israel had consulted President Donald Trump's administration before it carried out the strikes.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
