IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced, “We have entered a new phase in our war against Hamas.” Israel resumed its military operations on Monday with IDF aircraft bombing 200 Hamas targets, after the cease-fire ended Friday. Reuters reports that Palestinian sources are claiming that at least 50 people have been killed as a result of the airstrikes on schools sheltering refugees from northern Gaza. More than 15,500 Palestinian civilians have been killed during the conflict, with 70 percent being women or minors.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told ABC news that the war is expected to continue for at least two months at its current intensity, and stated the IDF’s goal is to ensure Hamas will “no longer function as a military organization that can launch organized attacks against Israel.” The cease-fire that ended Friday resulted in the negotiated release of more than 100 hostages being held by Hamas. IDF has said it would resume the cease-fire if “Hamas fulfills the original agreement and returns the 15 women and two children it is still holding.”
