<p>Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have instructed the IDF to act forcefully against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement early Tuesday morning.</p><p>"This follows Hamas’ repeated refusal to release our hostages and its rejection of all proposals received from US President’s envoy Steve Witkoff and the mediators. At this moment, the IDF is attacking targets of the Hamas terrorist organization throughout the Gaza Strip, with the aim of achieving the war objectives as set by the political echelon, including the release of all our hostages—both the living and the fallen," the statement added.</p><p>"From now on, Israel will act against Hamas with increasing military force. The operational plan was presented last weekend by the IDF and approved by the political echelon."</p>

<p><i>Fox News</i> reported that Israel consulted with the US administration before launching the widespread surprise attack in the Gaza Strip.</p>

<p>[twitter:2156479]</p>

<p>The Saudi channel <i>Al-Hadath</i> reported on Monday night that strikes in Al-Kiswah, Damascus, which were attributed to Israel, targeted military positions.</p>

<p>In accordance with the political echelon, the IDF and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) are currently conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip, said the IDF and Shin Bet in a joint statement.</p>

<p>The Hamas terrorist organization responded to the renewed Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.</p><p>"Netanyahu and Israel bear full responsibility for the consequences of the treacherous aggression in Gaza. Netanyahu and his extremist government are making a decision to reverse the ceasefire agreement, and are exposing the hostages in Gaza to an unknown fate. We demand that the mediators hold Netanyahu and Israel fully responsible for violating the agreement and canceling it," the organization said.</p>

<p>Following instructions from security officials, railway traffic between the Ashkelon and Sderot stations has been temporarily suspended, and a shuttle system will operate between them.</p>

<p>Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told the Qatari<i> Al-Arabi</i> channel, "The aggression in Gaza is a dangerous escalation that blows up the ceasefire agreement. What is happening now is an attempt to impose an agreement on our people in Gaza under fire."</p><p>He added, "What Israel failed to achieve through negotiations, it will not succeed in imposing through this aggression."</p>