Israel carried out massive overnight airstrikes on terror targets in Gaza as Hamas was preparing to launch a surprise attack on Israel.
“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,” Reuters reported. “Strikes in Gaza were reported in multiple locations.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) resumed its military operation days after Hamas rejected a U.S. ceasefire proposal and repeatedly attacked Israeli ground troops based in Gaza. “The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has ended as the Israeli Air Force conducted strikes (between Monday and Tuesday) on multiple targets throughout the Gaza Strip, supported by artillery fire from ground forces, with senior terrorist officials targeted,” the Israel Hayom newspaper reported Tuesday morning.
With Hamas mobilizing its terrorist forces, the IDF has issued new evacuation orders to Gaza communities along the Israeli border, Israeli media reports say. “The strikes come after the IDF says it identified Hamas preparations to launch attacks on Israel, along with its efforts to regroup and rearm,” The Times of Israel reported. “The IDF says it intends to continue the airstrikes “as long as necessary,” and widen the surprise assault beyond an aerial campaign if it is ordered to.”
The overnight Israeli airstrikes eliminated several top Hamas terrorists, Palestinian sources admit. “Five senior Hamas members were allegedly killed in the IDF strikes on Gaza overnight, Israeli and Arab media reported on Tuesday, citing Palestinian reports,” the Jerusalem Post reported. “Palestinian media sources and Sky News Arabia reported that five Hamas officials were among the casualties and named them as Mahmoud Abu Watfa, the director-general of Hamas’s Interior Ministry; Abu Obeidah Muhammad al-Jamasi and Issam al-Da’alis, members of Hamas’s political bureau; Ahmed Omar al-Hatta, a senior leader; and Bahjat Abu Sultan, responsible for Hamas’s internal security apparatus.”
The Israeli news website YNET reported the details of the ongoing operation:
The IDF Spokesperson in Arabic Avichay Adraee on Tuesday morning issued a warning to Gaza residents in areas of Gaza including in the neighborhoods of Beit Hanoun, Khirbet Khaza’a, Abasan al-Kabira and al-Jedida to evacuate due to the IDF offensive.The warning came hours after the cease-fire in Gaza ended late on Monday as the Air Force launched extensive strikes on the Gaza Strip in an operation dubbed ‘Strength and Sword’. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement issued by this office that he had instructed the military to take “strong action” against Hamas in Gaza in response to the group’s refusal to release hostages and rejection of all ceasefire proposals. “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength.”The IDF Arabic spokesman posted in his statement Tuesday morning that the IDF “has launched a powerful offensive against the terrorist organizations. These specific areas are considered dangerous combat zones. For your safety, you must evacuate immediately to the known shelters in western Gaza City and Khan Younis. Continuing to remain in the designated areas endangers your lives and the lives of your family members.” (…)At the same time, the IDF’s Home Front Command advised Israelis to prepare shelters across the country following recent air strikes in the Gaza Strip, the unit’s spokesperson Col. (res) Chilik Soffer told Ynet on Tuesday.“In most areas, there’s no immediate threat, but every citizen must be ready to act at a moment’s notice — not just in border areas,” Soffer said. “I recommend preparing shelters everywhere. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”Earlier on Tuesday the IDF said that it would close the Rafah border crossing from Gaza to Egypt. Some 5 wounded and sick people had been crossing through Rafah daily, in accordance with the cease-fire agreement. Other border crossings into Gaza have been closed for the past two weeks.
“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote in X. “The operational plan was presented by the IDF over the weekend and approved by the political leadership.”
Last week, Hamas rejected a proposal for a ceasefire during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan (February 28 – March 29) presented by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
Israel had accepted Witkoff’s proposal, agreeing to the extension of the ceasefire in return for 12 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others who were murdered by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The Gaza-based terrorist group continues to hold 59 hostages, including the remains of 35 murdered Israelis.
Israel also eliminated the propaganda chief of the Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist organization. “An Israeli airstrike killed the spokesperson of the armed wing of the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad on Tuesday,” Reuters reported. “Naji Abu Saif, better known as Abu Hamza, was killed in an airstrike that targeted his house in central Gaza, the sources added.”
As fighting breaks out between Syria’s ruling Islamist forces and Lebanon-based Hezbollah, Israel hit terrorist targets in both Syria and Lebanon.
“A short while ago, the IDF struck Hezbollah military sites in which Hezbollah terrorists and weapons were identified,” the Israeli military said in a press statement Monday night. “Terror activity at these sites poses a threat to the State of Israel and constitutes a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.”
Israeli armed forces continue to dismantle the military assets and capabilities of the ousted Assad regime, preventing it from falling into the hands of jihadists and other terrorist groups. “The IDF is currently striking military targets in southern Syria, including command centers and military sites containing weapons and military vehicles belonging to the old Syrian Regime, which they are attempting to make reusable,” the military disclosed. “The presence of military assets in southern Syria poses a threat to the State of Israel. The IDF will not allow the presence of military threats in southern Syria and will operate against it.”
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