Over 400, including the head of Hamas Al Govt in Gaza, killed in Israeli strikes; More than 560 injured – FirstPost

Hamas, Tuesday (March 18), confirmed that several top officials of the Palestinian militant organization were killed in a series of deadly Israeli strikes.

Among those killed were Mahmud Abu Watfa, the head of the Ministry of Interior; And Bahjat Abu Sultan, the general manager of the internal security service, according to a statement.

“These leaders, together with their families, were martyred after they were directly targeted by the aircraft aircraft,” the Hamas statement read.

The latest strikes mark a resumption of the war with full rights in Gaza, after a two -month fire cease, because Hamas continues to keep the release of more hostages and to agree to cease the proposals.

According to the media reports citing the Ministry of Health of Hamas, at least 404 Palestinians were killed and over 560 injured in Israeli strikes in Gaza.

Netanyahu promises to act against Hamas using military force

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he trained the military to take “strong measures” against Hamas, in an attempt to build pressure on the Gaza group.

“Israel will act, from now on, against the Hamas with an increasing military power,” the office of the Israeli Prime Minister said in a statement.

He added that the decision to resume the strikes was taken following “Hamas’s repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as rejecting all the proposals he received from the US Special Submit to Mideaest Steve Witkoff and from mediators.”

The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, later confirmed that Israel consulted with the US before launching fresh attacks.

Hamas, on the other hand, put pressure on the start of negotiations for phase 2 of the Peace Agreement, as originally decided. Phase 2 had to see that the Israeli forces are fully withdrawn from the besieged band and permanently ends the war in exchange for the release of all the remaining hostages.

While Israel argued to have discussions for Phase 2, the Special Special of the US Witkoff proposed to expand the 1 -week -long armistice in exchange for five living hostages. However, later, Witkoff accused Hamas of asking for impractical requests.

“Unfortunately, Hamas chose to publicly respond by publishing flexibility, as he privately made requests that are completely impractical, without permanent ceasing.”

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the region, Muhannad Hadi, subsequently criticized the movement of Israel and requested the immediate recapture of ceasing fire.

“The waves of air attacks took place on the Gaza band from the early hours of the morning and MLDR;

(With inputs from agencies)