Israel Gaza Airstrike Live Updates: Israel launches ground offensive after 'last warning' to Gazans

Israel Gaza Airstrike Live Updates: Israeli airstrikes on central Gaza have killed at least 200 people following the breakdown of ceasefire negotiations, according to Gaza rescuers and local authorities. Mahmud Basal, a spokesman for the civil defense agency, told AFP that "the death toll has reached over 20 martyrs and about 70 wounded" in early reports of the strikes. Israel justified the attack by citing "Hamas's repeated refusal to release our hostages."

The Israeli military confirmed the offensive in a Telegram post, stating it was "conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip," as reported by AFP. Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement and warned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government had "exposed the prisoners in Gaza to an unknown fate."

The strikes targeted areas around the Bureij refugee camp, with one hitting a school sheltering displaced Palestinians. Officials at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reported that a 52-year-old man and his 16-year-old nephew were killed in the attack. In response to the escalation, Israel also announced the closure of schools across Gaza.

10:06 (IST) Mar 18

Operational update from IDF

— IDF (@IDF)

10:06 (IST) Mar 18

Hamas warns that Israel's new airstrikes breach their ceasefire

Israel launched a new wave of airstrikes across Gaza early Tuesday, citing a lack of progress in ceasefire extension negotiations. Hamas condemned the strikes as an "unprovoked escalation" and warned they endangered the fate of hostages. It remains unclear whether the attacks were a pressure tactic or marked a full-scale resumption of the 17-month conflict.

10:05 (IST) Mar 18

Israel Gaza Airstrike Live Updates: Israel launches deadly airstrikes on Gaza after truce talks stall; at least 200 killed

Israel carried out strikes in central Gaza, killing at least 200 people after the ceasefire negotiations fell apart, according to statements from Gaza rescuers and local authorities.

"The death toll has reached over 20 martyrs and about 70 wounded as a result of a series of Israeli raids on areas of the Gaza Strip," agency spokesman Mahmud Basal told AFP.

The reason was the attack was given as 'Hamas's repeated refusal to release our hostages', according to Israel. Amid the attacks, it also announced closure of schools in the Gaza strip.

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10:05 (IST) Mar 18

Israel Gaza Airstrikes Live Updates: Hamas says Netanyahu decided to 'sacrifice' hostages by resuming war

A top Hamas official said Israel decided to sacrifice its hostages by re-launching massive military operations in the Gaza Strip Tuesday, shattering a period of relative calm since a January truce.

Benjamin "Netanyahu's decision to resume war is a decision to sacrifice the occupation's prisoners and impose a death sentence on them," Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq said in a statement, adding that the Israeli premier was using the fighting as a political "lifeboat" to distract from internal crises.

Israel Gaza Airstrike Live Updates: Israel carried out its heaviest airstrikes on Gaza since January early Tuesday, targeting Hamas positions after ceasefire negotiations failed. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported at least 200 fatalities, with spokesman Khalil Degran providing the updated toll from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were ordered due to stalled ceasefire talks. It remains unclear whether the operation is a pressure tactic or signals a full-scale resumption of the 17-month conflict. Hamas condemned the assault as a ceasefire violation and warned that hostages’ lives were now at risk.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the US was consulted before the strikes, stating that the Trump administration stands firm against Hamas, the Houthis, and Iran, warning they would “pay a price.” National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes blamed Hamas for the renewed violence, stating that the group “chose refusal and war” by not releasing hostages. US envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been mediating with Egypt and Qatar, had previously warned Hamas to free captives or “pay a severe price.”

Israeli officials described the operation as open-ended, with Netanyahu’s office declaring that Israel “will act against Hamas with increasing military strength.” Further military actions are expected as tensions continue to escalate.