Hamas Says Head Of Its Government, Israeli Hostage Among 400 Killed In Gaza Strikes

Hamas on Tuesday said the head of its government was killed in the Israeli strike in Gaza earlier today.

According to Palestinian health authorities, a total of 400 people have died as Israeli airstrikes pounded Gaza, collapsing a two-month ceasefire with Hamas as Israel vowed to use force to free its remaining hostages in the strip.

Hours after the strike, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the military to take “strong action” against Hamas in Gaza in response to the group’s refusal to release hostages held there and rejection of ceasefire proposals.

“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” his office said in a statement. Hamas accused Israel of overturning the hard-fought ceasefire deal agreed in January, leaving the fate of 59 hostages still held in Gaza uncertain.

Strikes in Gaza were reported in multiple locations. Officials from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said many of the dead were children. An Israeli hostage was also among the casualties, Hamas claimed in a statement. In hospitals strained by 15 months of bombardment, piles of bodies in white plastic sheets smeared with blood could be seen stacked up as casualties were brought in.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it hit dozens of targets, and that the attacks would continue for as long as necessary and extend beyond airstrikes, raising the prospect that Israeli ground troops could resume fighting. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Defence Minister Israel Katz and top security officials at the Kirya for a security review.