Israel Launches Airstrikes On Gaza After Hamas Refuses To Release More Hostages, PM Netanyahu Emphasises Military Strength

Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on Gaza early Tuesday (18 March) after negotiations for a renewed ceasefire and hostage release fell apart, reported The Hindu.

The escalation marks the heaviest military assault since the truce began in January, with Gaza’s civil defence agency reporting at least 121 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated that the military was instructed to intensify strikes on Hamas targets due to the group’s refusal to release more hostages. 

Mediation efforts led by US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and negotiators from Egypt and Qatar failed to produce an agreement, prompting Israel to take military action.

“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement, as quoted by The Hindu.

In response, a senior Hamas official told Reuters that Israel had unilaterally abandoned the ceasefire agreement, accusing it of escalating tensions rather than honouring previous commitments.

The ceasefire, which had halted the 17-month-long war, initially led to the exchange of dozens of Israeli hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. 

While sporadic clashes occurred along restricted zones, large-scale violence had largely been avoided.

However, the negotiations faced a fundamental deadlock. Israel demanded that Hamas release half of the remaining hostages as a condition for further truce discussions. 

Hamas, on the other hand, insisted on adhering to the original ceasefire framework, which called for a staged withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza in exchange for all remaining hostages.

Intelligence sources estimate Hamas still holds 24 living hostages and the remains of 35 others.