June 19, 2025
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, shattering a ceasefire in place since January as it vowed to force Hamas to release more hostages and relinquish control of the territory.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes after the terrorist group refused Israeli demands to free half of the remaining hostages as a precondition for extending the ceasefire.
Netanyahu said the attack was “only the beginning” and that Israel would press ahead until it achieves all of its war aims — destroying Hamas and freeing all hostages held by the terrorist group.
Hamas said at least six senior officials were killed in Tuesday’s strikes. Israel said they included the head of Hamas’ civilian government, a justice ministry official, and two security agency chiefs.
All further ceasefire negotiations will take place “under fire,” he said in a statement aired on national television. The White House said it had been consulted and voiced support for Israel’s actions.
The Israeli military ordered people to evacuate eastern Gaza and head toward the center of the territory, indicating that Israel could soon launch renewed ground operations.
There were no reports of any attacks by Hamas several hours after the bombardment.
But Yemen’s Houthi terrorists fired rockets toward Israel for the first time since the ceasefire began. The volley set off sirens in Israel’s southern Negev desert but was intercepted before it reached the country’s territory, the military said. The U.S. over the weekend launched deadly strikes against the Iranian-backed Houthis.
In his statement Tuesday, Netanyahu blamed Hamas for civilian casualties, saying it operates among the population.
The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry claims the war has killed over 48,500 Palestinians.
The war erupted when Hamas-led terrorists stormed into southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Most have been released in ceasefires or other deals, with Israeli forces rescuing only eight and recovering dozens of bodies.
The White House blamed Hamas for the renewed fighting. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said the terror group “could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war.”
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the unfolding operation, said Israel was striking Hamas’ military, leaders, and infrastructure and planned to expand the operation beyond air attacks.
The official accused Hamas of attempting to rebuild and plan new attacks. Hamas terrorists and security forces quickly returned to the streets in recent weeks after the ceasefire went into effect.
