Deadly Retaliation: Israel Launches Widespread Airstrikes Across Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, Claiming 60+ Lives
Israel Launches Strikes Across Border, Mentions Hostage Release as Motivation
In a sudden escalation of violence, Israel launched extensive strikes on the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Syria, killing at least 40 people and wounding over 70 others. According to reports from Gaza rescuers and local authorities, the death toll has reached 20 martyrs, with multiple casualties.
The Israeli military claims that the attacks were a response to Hamas’s repeated refusal to release their hostages. In a statement, the Israeli army confirmed that it was conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.
However, Hamas has accused Israel of breaching a truce agreement by conducting widespread bombardments of Gaza and has warned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has decided to overturn the ceasefire agreement, putting prisoners in Gaza at risk. The strikes targeted areas around the urban refugee camp of Bureij, including a school that served as a shelter for displaced Palestinians, killing a 52-year-old man and his 16-year-old nephew. Another attack killed three men, whom the Israeli military claimed were trying to plant an explosive device, while Gaza’s Hamas-led government said they were collecting firewood.
The strikes have been launched despite a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, in place since late November, which ended a 14-month conflict. However, both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the agreement. The attacks come as Israel has blocked all food, medicine, fuel, and other supplies to Gaza for the past two weeks, demanding that Hamas accept modifications to their ceasefire deal.
The death toll is rising as the Israeli military continues to conduct its operations. The strikes have also affected Syria, where at least 10 people were killed, including three children, and 19 others were injured. The Syrian civil defense agency reported that two ambulances were damaged. The Israeli military claims that it targeted military command centers and sites containing weapons and vehicles belonging to Assad’s forces, citing security threats.
As the situation continues to unfold, international mediators are working to reach a new agreement between Israel and Hamas. The next phase of the deal aims to secure the release of 24 living hostages and the bodies of 35 others held by Hamas in exchange for negotiations on a lasting truce. The Israeli government has demanded that Hamas accede to modifications to the ceasefire agreement, while Hamas insists on following the original terms, which call for talks on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The ongoing violence has raised concerns about the likelihood of a peaceful resolution in the region.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/israel-intensifies-strikes-on-hamas-after-failed-negotiations/articleshow/119137214.cms
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Publish Date: 2025-03-18 06:18:00
