Tuesday, 18 March 2025 04:43

Here’s the latest as Israel-Hamas war enters Day 529

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Ceasefire over as Israel strikes Gaza after Hamas refused to release hostages, officials say

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is over as Israeli fighter jets began striking the Gaza Strip after Hamas refused repeated hostage deal offers, officials said. 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began striking Hamas terrorist targets across Gaza "in order to achieve the war objectives set by the political leadership, including the release of all our hostages—both the living and the fallen," the office of Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a letter. 

"This decision comes after Hamas repeatedly refused to release our hostages and rejected all proposals presented by U.S. President’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, as well as the mediators," the letter states. 

Israel will intensify its military actions against Hamas moving forward, authorities said.

"Under the direction of the political echelon, the IDF and Shin Bet are widely attacking terrorist targets of the Hamas terrorist organization throughout the Gaza Strip, more details below," the IDF and Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service, said in a joint statement. 

Strikes were reported in multiple locations, including northern Gaza, Gaza City and the Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah in central and southern Gaza Strip

The Israeli military, which said it hit dozens of targets, said the strikes would continue for as long as necessary and would extend beyond air strikes, raising the prospect that Israeli ground troops could resume fighting.

The attacks were far wider in scale than the regular series of drone strikes the Israeli military has said it has conducted against individuals or small groups of suspected militants and follows weeks of failed efforts to agree an extension to the truce agreed on January 19.

In Washington, a White House spokesperson said Israel had consulted the U.S. administration before it carried out the strikes, which the military said targeted mid-level Hamas commanders and leadership officials as well as infrastructure belonging to the militant group.

"Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war," White House spokesperson Brian Hughes said.

 

Fox News/Reuters

May 12, 2025

5 leadership strategies to help teams thrive amid uncertainty

Mark C. Crowley Uncertainty has become a defining feature of life today, a reality that…
May 12, 2025

Northern leaders demand urgent action on insecurity, push for state police

Amid worsening insecurity across Nigeria, the 19 Northern governors and traditional rulers have called for…
May 10, 2025

The No. 1 lesson I learnt about relationship building, from a human connection specialist

Developing healthy, lifelong connections is something that Mark Groves knows all about: He equips individuals…
May 10, 2025

Town residents involutarily get high after Police burn 20 tons of confiscated cannabis

The 25,000 residents of Lice, a town in Turkey’s Diyarbakır province, involuntarily got high after…
May 12, 2025

23 killed in fresh attacks on Benue communities

At least 23 persons have been killed in a series of coordinated attacks across four…
May 12, 2025

Here’s the latest as Israel-Hamas war enters Day 584

Hamas says it will release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander will soon…
May 11, 2025

African diet – plantains and cassava can be as healthy as tomatoes and olive oil,…

Plantains, cassava and fermented banana drink should be added to global healthy eating guidelines alongside…
January 08, 2025

NFF appoints new Super Eagles head coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Head Coach…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2025 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.