At least 80 civilians, mostly women and children, were killed in airstrikes by Israel across the Gaza Strip after their failed ceasefire negotiations with the Hamas group. A senior Hamas official reported saying that Israel is unilaterally ending the Gaza ceasefire agreement after a series of strikes early on Tuesday, March 18.
A senior Hamas security official Mahmoud Abu Watfa was also killed in Israeli strikes on Haza, Reuters quoted Hamas. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency said in a joint statement that they were conducting extensive strikes on targets belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Israel Airstrikes in Gaza
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Local Authorities also reported Israel attacked Syria and Lebanon, which killed several citizens. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled the ceasefire agreement and asked its military to conduct "strong action" against Hamas in Gaza in response to the refuse to release hostages and rejection of all ceasefire proposals.
"Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength," prime minister's office statement said.
Three shelters were struck in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, a building was hit in Gaza City, and targets in Khan Younis and Rafah were also attacked. The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service reported at least 35 airstrikes on Gaza.
Israel airstrikes shelters around the refugee camp of Bureij. IDF also targeted a school serving as a shelter of displaced Palestinians, killing a 52-year-old man and his 16-year-old nephew.
In addition to the attacks in Gaza, Israel also bombarded targets in southern Lebanon and Syria, killing at least 10 people, mostly women and children. Earlier, the airstrikes, Israel blocked all food, medicine, fuel and other supplies for the past two weeks, demanding Hamas to accept modifications to their ceasefire deal.