New Delhi [India], March 18 : Israel has launched a new wave of military strikes against Hamas in Gaza following the group's rejection of multiple ceasefire proposals.
The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, directed the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to take "strong action" after Hamas refused to release Israeli hostages and rejected all mediation efforts led by US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and other mediators.
In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office declared that Israel would now act with "increasing military strength" against Hamas.
Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, justified the renewed offensive, stating, "Diplomacy has failed. The Americans have put forward several proposals for the continuation of the ceasefire. Israel accepted them, but Hamas refused them. We are determined to create a situation in which we bring all our hostages back and get rid of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip."
He added, "If Hamas refuses to renounce power and continues to hold the hostages, and continues to refuse the proposals of the United States, they are going to pay the price. And that's why we have renewed our military pressure to create a situation in which Hamas changes mind or face defeat."
Azar highlighted the ongoing efforts to retrieve Israeli captives, saying, "We have managed to bring back 195 hostages out of 245. There are still 59 hostages that are left in the Gaza Strip. About half of them are alive and we are determined to bring them back. If Hamas refuses to do so, they will face Israeli attacks because they are refusing to engage in diplomacy."
He accused Hamas of attempting to leverage the hostages to maintain its grip on Gaza, adding, "They are stubborn to create a situation, in which, in return of the hostages, they keep their grip on the Gaza Strip, and this is refused, not only by Israel, but also by the United States. There is zero distance between Israel and United States in this matter, and I'm sure that many countries in the region that want to engage in peaceful activity - they are against Hamas as well. So, if they don't renounce power, it means that hostilities will continue."
Following the political directive, the IDF launched widespread strikes against Hamas positions across Gaza. The Prime Minister's Office shared on X earlier on Tuesday, "The IDF is, at this time, attacking targets of the Hamas terrorist organisation throughout the Gaza Strip in order to achieve the objectives of the war as they have been determined by the political echelon, including the release of all of our hostages, the living and the deceased."