Israel conducted blanket airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday morning, essentially ending a ceasefire that has held since January. The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least 121 Palestinians, including numerous women and children, were killed in the attacks, with dozens more injured.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the military intervention was a reaction to Hamas's refusal to release hostages and rejection of ceasefire overtures. He threatened that Israel would now move against Hamas with "growing military force."

The airstrikes hit several areas, such as Deir al-Balah, Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Rafah. The Palestinian civil emergency service said at least 35 airstrikes were carried out in Gaza.

Hamas denounced the Israeli attacks, claiming that the moves effectively terminated the ceasefire deal and put the lives of hostages in Gaza at risk. A high-ranking Hamas representative blamed Israel for unilaterally reversing the ceasefire, leaving hostages to an uncertain destiny.
The White House assured that it had been consulted by Israel before the attacks and had backed moves against terrorist threats.

The truce, starting in January, had been brokered by Arab states with American backing. Hamas had released around three dozen hostages over a six-week period in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under the first phase of the deal. Negotiations on a second phase, which would see nearly 60 still-held hostages freed and the fighting halted, had collapsed in recent weeks.

The resumption of violence has sparked fears of an increased humanitarian crisis in Gaza, whose living conditions were already desperate from earlier conflicts and blockades. International appeals for restraint and respect for civilians' rights are likely to grow stronger as the crisis unfolds.