The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is over.
According to officials, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip after Hamas refused repeated hostage deal offers.
The IDF says it eliminated a number of senior Hamas members in the days-long wave of airstrikes, including Essam al-Da’alis, head of the Hamas Government.
“Essam al-Da’alis replaced Rawhi Mushtaha in this position after he was eliminated in July 2024. In his role, al-Da’alis was responsible for the functioning of Hamas’ terror regime in the Gaza Strip and oversaw the integration of all of Hamas’ branches in Gaza and their use for terrorist purposes,” the IDF said in a statement.
The IDF said they determined that there was a “high probability” that airstrikes eliminated Mahmoud Marzouk Ahmed Abu-Watfa, Hamas’ head of internal affairs; Bahajat Hassan Mohammed Abu-Sultan, the head of Hamas’ internal security forces, and Ahmed Amar Abdullah Alhata, Hamas’ minister of justice.
President Donald Trump’s administration backed Israel’s move in a statement on Monday.
“Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war,” National Security Council (NSC) spokesman Brian Hughes told Fox News.
The IDF launched a series of preemptive strikes targeting mid-ranking military commanders, leadership officials and terrorist infrastructure belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization, an Israeli official told Fox News. The military offensive will continue as long as necessary, and will expand beyond air strikes, the official said.
At least 404 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed in the airstrikes, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. Fox News noted that the death toll has not been independently verified.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
