Israeli airstrikes across Gaza have killed over 300 Palestinians, including many women and children, according to medical sources.
Hamas called the attacks a “treacherous” assault on civilians, accusing Israel of sabotaging the ceasefire.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad also condemned the strikes, saying Israel deliberately violated the ceasefire agreement that had been in place since January 19.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the strikes were ordered due to a lack of progress in talks to extend the ceasefire.
An Israeli official told CNN the airstrikes were a “preemptive” move aimed at targeting Hamas’s military readiness.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was conducting “extensive strikes” on Hamas targets, with Netanyahu’s office stating that the attacks were necessary because Hamas had refused to release Israeli hostages.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that more than 48,500 Palestinians have died, with over 61,700 presumed dead.
