The decision was made in light of accumulating circumstances, primarily the lack of any movement in negotiations for the release of our hostages due to Hamas’s rejectionist stance, and a warning of the possibility of an attack by terrorist organizations in Gaza against our soldiers and communities for the purpose of killing and kidnapping.

After Hamas repeatedly refused to release our hostages and rejected the proposals it received from the envoy of the President of the United States, Steve Witkoff, and from the mediators, the IDF and Shin Bet were instructed, as stated, to strike a series of targets of the Hamas terrorist organization across the entire Gaza Strip, with the aim of achieving the war objectives as determined by the political leadership, including the release of all our hostages—both the living and the fallen.

The Prime Minister clarified that from this point forward, Israel will act against Hamas with increasingly intensifying military force.