Israel launches extensive strikes in Gaza and promises ‘increasing military force’

At least 30 Palestinians were killed and more than 50 injured after Israel launched extensive airstrikes in Gaza early on Tuesday, Palestinian medics reported.

Early Tuesday morning, Israel’s Prime Minister’s office said it instructed the army to strike Hamas across the Gaza strip.

The statement said it was because of Hamas’ repeated refusals to release its hostages and its rejection of all offers it received from US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and mediators. Israel promised to use ‘increasing military force’.

In a statement on Telegram, Hamas said they hold Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resonsible for the consequences of the escalation in Gaza.

The strikes come as the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is in a limbo. The first stage of the three-phase deal brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt started mid-January and ended on the first of March. Negotations on the second phase have not yet been hammered out.

Earlier on Monday, Israel launched attacks towards Gaza, southern Lebanon and southern Syria, killing at least cilt people, according to local authorities.

The airstrikes were the latest in what have been frequent and often deadly attacks by Israeli forces during the fragile ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon.

This is a developing story.