The Israeli Defense Forces have resumed strikes on the targets of the Hamas terrorist group in the Gaza Strip.

The army’s press service reported this on the night of Tuesday, March 18.

The IDF started launching strikes following an order from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz to “act decisively” against Hamas in response to the Palestinian group’s refusal to release Israeli hostages, according to The Times of Israel.

“Following the decision of the political leadership, the IDF has initiated a series of targeted strikes on Hamas terrorist sites in the Gaza Strip,” the Israeli army’s statement reads.

These airstrikes have broken a ceasefire that had held for nearly two months, halting hostilities in the region. Reports are emerging of civilian casualties.

Netanyahu’s office also claims that Hamas “rejected all the proposals it received” from Steve Witkoff, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, and other mediators.

Regarding the overnight strikes, Netanyahu’s office stated that they are aimed at achieving Israel’s military objectives, namely, dismantling Hamas’s military and command capabilities and securing the release of hostages.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect on January 19. The first phase of the agreement included the unblocking of large amounts of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip by Israel, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas, and a prisoner exchange for hostages.

In the first phase of the agreement, which ended in early March, Hamas released more than 30 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

After that, Israel refused to negotiate the terms for the second phase. However, the ceasefire held for about two and a half weeks after completing the first phase, as mediators worked to reach new terms for extending the truce.

It is important to note that the second phase of the previous agreements was meant to establish a permanent ceasefire, exchange the remaining hostages, and ensure the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. The third and final phase was to include the return of all deceased hostages’ bodies and the reconstruction of the enclave.

The White House stated that Israel consulted with the U.S. President Donald Trump administration prior to the overnight wave of strikes on Gaza. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reported this to Fox News.