Israel begins attacks in Gaza, ending ceasefire after Hamas refused to release hostages
SUMMARY
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is toast. On Monday night, Israeli jets roared back into action, pounding Gaza after Hamas shot down multiple hostage deal offers, officials say. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) kicked off a wave of strikes targeting Hamas commanders and infrastructure, with Defense Minister Israel Katz vowing to crank up the heat until all hostages—alive or dead—are free. “The gates of hell will open in Gaza,” Katz warned, blaming Hamas for stalling. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the group “rejected all proposals” from Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and mediators. Hamas fired back, pinning the blame on Netanyahu for “treacherous aggression” and demanding a full Israeli pullout—something Israel’s refused, insisting Hamas must be dismantled first. The nearly two-month truce, which started January 19, saw dozens of hostages swapped for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, but now it’s game on again.
