WASHINGTON, March 18 (Bernama-Anadolu) – The Israeli army said on Tuesday that it has conducted air strikes in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
"Based on directives from the political echelon, IDF (Israel Defence Forces) and Shin Bet forces are launching a large-scale attack on Hamas targets throughout the Gaza Strip," military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X.
Local media, citing the Palestinian civil emergency service, said at least 59 people have been killed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz have instructed the army to take "strong action" against Hamas in Gaza, the Prime Minister's Office said.
"This follows Hamas's repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all the proposals it has received from US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and the mediators," it said in a statement.
The army is attacking targets of the Palestinian group in the Strip "to achieve the objectives of the war as they have been determined by the political echelon, including the release of all our hostages, both the living and the deceased."
"Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength. The operational plan was presented by the IDF over the weekend and approved by the political leadership," it added.
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