In a televised address to the nation, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Israel has resumed fighting in Gaza with full force and will continue until all goals are achieved, including the release of hostages held by Hamas.
From now on, negotiations will only take place under fire. Military pressure is essential for the release of the remaining hostages, he says.
There is one thing I am certain of. We will win and we can defeat them.
A new ground invasion may be imminent
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz warns Hamas, labeled as a terrorist organization, that "the rules of the game have changed" and that there may be a new ground invasion if the hostages are not released.
"If they do not release all hostages immediately, the gates of hell will open, and they will face the full force of the IDF in the air, at sea, and on land", he says in a statement, referring to the Israeli army.
Bombs fell with a few seconds' interval when Israeli fighter jets attacked several areas in Gaza during the night leading up to Tuesday.
The attack was "fully coordinated with Washington", says the Israeli government's spokesperson David Mencer.
Israel has thanked President Trump and his government for their unwavering support, he says at a press conference.
The wounded are pouring into hospitals. At least 400 people have been killed and many have been injured – including a large number of children, women, and the elderly, according to reports from seven hospitals and Hamas-controlled health authorities.
Extremist leaders killed
Hamas, labeled as a terrorist organization, reports that at least six of the group's leaders have been killed, including the leader of Hamas' rule in Gaza, Essam al-Dalis.
In Khan Yunis, two high-ranking leaders of the extremist movement Islamic Jihad were killed, according to media reports. According to the Israeli Haaretz, it concerns Hassan al-Naam Abu Ali, leader of the group's armed branch al-Qudsbrigaderna, and al-Qudsbrigadernas spokesperson Abu Hamza. The movement confirms Hamza's death.
In parallel, Israel's military is ordering evacuations from eastern Gaza towards the center of the area, according to several media outlets. This is interpreted as a signal that new Israeli ground offensives are imminent.
On Tuesday, before dawn, Israel announced that "comprehensive attacks" on Gaza were imminent. The attacks would target Hamas' military, leaders, and infrastructure, claimed an official for AP. This refers to Hamas not wanting to extend the ceasefire's first phase and release more of the hostages they hold without negotiating phase two.
Overcrowded emergency rooms
Hamas soon confirmed that Israel had broken the ceasefire that began on January 19.
Horror scenes are being reported from overcrowded emergency rooms in Gaza, where the wounded, some screaming in pain, have to be laid on the floor. Outside clinics and at morgues, relatives are mourning the dead.
In Israel, much attention is focused on the hostages taken by Hamas during its large-scale attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 – the one that triggered the war.
Corrected: In an earlier version, the wrong date was given for when the ceasefire's first phase expired.
