ADDS STATEMENT FROM ISRAELI PRIME MINISTRY
By Diyar Guldogan
WASHINGTON (AA) - The Israeli army said Tuesday that it has conducted air strikes in the Gaza Strip.
"Based on directives from the political echelon, IDF and Shin Bet forces are launching a large-scale attack on Hamas terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip," military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X.
Casualties are reported, according to local media.
Local media, citing the Palestinian civil emergency service, said at least 30 people were killed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have instructed the army to take "strong action" against Hamas in Gaza, the Prime Ministry's Office said.
"This follows Hamas's repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all of the proposals it has received from US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and from 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 of our hostages, 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.