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Israel carried out a wave of "extensive strikes" on the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledging that "Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength."
The strikes killed 413 people and left a further 660 injured, Gaza's Health Ministry told The Associated Press (AP). Four senior officials, including two top police officers, in the Hamas administration were killed in the strikes, the Hamas-run government media office said.
Israeli officials said the operation was open-ended and was expected to expand. The White House said it had been consulted and supported Israel's actions. Hamas said the strikes breached the ceasefire deal and endangered the remaining hostages it is holding.
The Context
The strikes mark the most significant escalation in Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip since Israel and the militant group Hamas reached a tenuous ceasefire agreement nearly two months ago.
Hamas has accused Israel of violating the fragile truce hundreds of times since it went into effect in January.
Nearly 50,000 Palestinians have died since the war began, according to figures from Gaza's health ministry, the AP reported. Millions have been displaced. Much of Gaza has also been destroyed since the war was first launched in October 2023 following the worst ever Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. The initial October 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
What To Know
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli Security Agency (ISA) announced the latest wave of strikes early Tuesday local time.
Israel is "currently conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip," they said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News' Sean Hannity that "the Trump administration and the White House were consulted by the Israelis on their attacks in Gaza tonight."
The strikes come as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have stalled in recent days. In the first phase of the truce, Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for about three dozen hostages who were held in Gaza.
But Israel and Hamas have not been able to reach a final agreement on releasing the nearly 60 remaining hostages since the first phase of the ceasefire ended.
Israel seeks to extend the first, limited phase of the deal, while Hamas has called for talks toward advancing to the second phase, which would pave the way for a long-term cessation of hostilities.
Netanyahu, when announcing the strikes, cited Hamas' refusal to release the remaining hostages and its rejection of proposals it got from Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy to the Middle East.
The prime minister instructed Israeli forces to carry out their strikes across the Gaza Strip.
What People Are Saying
The IDF and ISA said in their full joint statement: "In accordance with the political echelon, the IDF and ISA are currently conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. Details to follow."
Netanyahu said in his statement: The IDF and ISA are conducting the strikes "with the aim of achieving the war goals as determined by the political echelon, including the release of all our hostages—living and dead."
Taher Nunu, a Hamas official, said in a statement to The Associated Press (AP): "The international community faces a moral test: either it allows the return of the crimes committed by the occupation army or it enforces a commitment to ending the aggression and war against innocent people in Gaza."
An Israeli official told Newsweek: "This preemptive offensive will continue as long as necessary, and will expand beyond airstrikes. The IDF is prepared and spread out in all arenas, both in personnel manning the borders and the Aerial Defence Array."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News: "As President Trump has made it clear, Hamas, the Houthis, Iran—all those who seek to terrorize not just Israel, but also the United States of America—will see a price to pay: All hell will break lose."
Majd Naser, a displaced Palestinian, told the AP: "I heard screaming, my mother and sister screaming, calling for help. I came and entered the room and found the children under the rubble, under the stones."
What Happens Next
The AP reported that it's unclear whether this latest wave of strikes is part of a one-time pressure tactic designed to force Hamas to the negotiating table, or if Israel plans on scrapping the ceasefire talks and resuming the war altogether.
The Israeli official told Newsweek that in the meantime, "a decision has been made not to open up schools and educational activity in the Gaza Envelope. The IDF is in constant communication with the communities."
They added that Israel has also decided "to halt the activity of the Sderot train route" in the south of Israel. The route was closed after Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel and was reopened in early February for the first time since Sderot was rocked by Hamas' attacks.
The Associated Press contributed reporting to this article.
Update 3/17/25, 6:34 a.m. ET: This article was updated with death toll and latest details.
Update 3/17/25, 11:05 p.m. ET: This article was updated with Leavitt's comments.
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About the writer
Sonam Sheth is an Evening Politics Editor at Newsweek who is based in New York. She joined Newsweek in 2024 ... Read more