Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) started airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, ending a fragile ceasefire that had been in place since January.
Health officials in Gaza say at least 404 Palestinians have been killed and another 562 injured, with the death toll expected to climb as rescue workers search through the rubble.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that Israel would engage Hamas “with increasing military force,” accusing the group of rejecting proposals to extend the ceasefire and refusing to free hostages.
The IDF said it had launched “extensive strikes on terror targets,” focusing on what it describes as Hamas strongholds across Gaza.
Residents of several densely populated neighbourhoods reported intense bombing, which flattened buildings and damaged makeshift schools.
One of the strikes killed Mahmoud Abu Wafah, a high-ranking Hamas security official.
IDF also issued new evacuation orders for certain areas, further alarming civilians who say medical facilities are already overwhelmed.
The White House confirmed Israel had consulted with President Donald Trump prior to the operation.
Other countries, including Iran, condemned the strikes, warning that a full-scale war could start again.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials insist the attacks will continue as long as Hamas remains defiant, and they have suggested the campaign could expand beyond airstrikes if progress is not made in hostage negotiations.
Israel said that Tuesday’s attacks are meant as a “negotiation tactic” to pressure Hamas into softening its demands.
Talks between the two sides have reportedly stalled, with Hamas calling for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war in return for releasing remaining hostages.
Israel wants an extension of the existing ceasefire’s first phase and more hostages freed before any broader agreement is discussed.
Netanyahu and other senior Israeli leaders decided on a plan that includes heavy airstrikes but stops short of targeting Hamas’s highest ranking officials.
They also have plans prepared for a potential ground operation should talks not progress towards returning the hostages.
Right-wing politicians in Israel are celebrating the renewed offensive.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich posted on social media that the strikes aim to “destroy Hamas” and eliminate the threat it poses to Israel.
The ultranationalist Jewish Power Party, which left the government coalition over January’s ceasefire, announced it would rejoin the coalition following the restarting of the bombings.
Opposition figures and former hostages have criticized the move, warning that breaking the ceasefire places hostages at greater risk and makes any long-term solution harder to achieve.
Still, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar defended the restart of fighting, calling it a continuation of Israel’s commitment to end Hamas’s influence.