The truce between Israel and Hamas came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered dozens of strikes across Gaza. Netanyahu said the strikes were in response to Hamas' "repeated refusals" to release Israeli hostages, the Times of Israel reported.
According to Hamas, at least 326 Palestinians were killed in the massive attack. Hamas did not say how many of the dead were Hamas militants.
Netanyahu's office said the decision to resume strikes shortly after midnight "followed Hamas' repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all offers it received from the US special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and from mediators."
Hamas is insisting on the original terms of the deal, which was due to enter its second phase at the beginning of the month. That phase called for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an agreement to a final end to the war in exchange for the release of the remaining live hostages held by the terrorists.
The truce remained in place for about two and a half weeks after the end of the first phase while mediators worked to broker new terms for the truce to continue.
Accepting Israel’s aversion to the second phase, Witkoff last week presented a bridge proposal that would have extended the first phase by several weeks, during which the five live hostages would be released. The US ambassador said Hamas’s response to the proposal was “incorrect” and warned of future consequences if the terror group did not change its approach.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Israel consulted with the Trump administration before striking.
"As President Trump has made clear, Hamas, the Houthis, Iran - all those who seek to terrorize, not just Israel but the United States of America - will see a price to pay. All hell will break loose," she said.
White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes also said Hamas should release all hostages.
"Hamas could have released the hostages to continue the ceasefire, but instead they chose to refuse and go to war," said Brian Hughes.
Hamas, in turn, called on the UN Security Council to urgently convene to adopt a resolution that would oblige Israel to end its "aggression."
Hamas had previously rejected Trump's ultimatum to release the hostages.
Who we are: About us, Contacts. How we write news and our principles: Editorial code. We did our best. If you found this valuable – please support us.
To request a correction, please send an email.