Kochi: Israel conducted airstrikes on Gaza reportedly killing 220 people including a top Hamas security official, BBC reports said.
One of those reportedly killed was Gaza’a highest-ranking Hamas security official
Mahmoud Abu Wafah. Civilians, including children, have also been caught up in the attack.
The attack comes after the failure of 72 hours of talks in Doha involving high level officials from Egypt, Qatar and the US to extend the first stage of the ceasefire that came to effect on January 19.
Israel said the attack was in response to Hamas’ repeated refusal to release Israeli hostages and rejecting all of the proposals of the US, BBC said quoting a statement from the PM’s office.
Hamas had declared a state of emergency in Gaza as it was expecting the attack even as it was a surprise for the people in Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was aiming Hams’ “terror targets”.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the strikes on Tuesday morning, BBC said.
The plan for the strikes “was presented by the IDF over the weekend and approved by the political leadership”, the statement said.
Hamas has accused Israel of treachery for overturning the ceasefire agreement. Hl Israel is exposing the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza to “an unknown fate”, said Hamas which has not yet declared any plans of resuming the war. It has called on mediators and the United Nations to intervene.
This is the largest wave of airstrikes in Gaza since the ceasefire began on 19 January, the reports said.
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