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Israel has launched “wide strikes” in Gaza, saying it has hit Hamas’ targets in what seemed to be the most intense attack on the enclave, as a ceasefire came into force in January.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet said in post that Israeli Defense forces attacked Hamas’ terrorist targets in the lane due to “Hamas’s rejecting to free our hostages” and “rejecting the group of all proposals from the US president.
“Israel, from now on, will act against Hamas with increased military force,” Netanyahu’s office said.
The first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which came into force in January and included a return to Israeli hostages from Gaza in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, ended earlier this month.
International mediators, including the United States, have tried to expand the truce and ensure the release of the remaining hostages that have the militant group.
Israel only returned to the negotiating table last week, sending a team to Doha for the first talks after US President Donald Trump took office following direct talks between Washington and Hamas. Talks are mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.
Israel’s military action also comes after Netanyahu removed Ronen Bar, head of the domestic intelligence agency Shin Beth and David Barnea, director of the foreign spy agency Mossad, from his country’s negotiating team. The prime minister claims that intelligence chiefs are negotiating too gently.
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