Middle East latest: Israeli attack on Gaza shatters ceasefire and kills hundreds

Israel launched a wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, saying it was hitting Hamas targets in its heaviest assault on the territory since a ceasefire took effect in January. The strikes have killed more than 400 people and wounded hundreds more, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which says over half the dead are women and children.

The Israeli attack could signal the full resumption of war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that all ceasefire negotiations will now take place “under fire.”

Hamas — which has yet to respond militarily — warned that Israel's bombardments are jeopardizing the roughly two dozen Israeli hostages still alive in Hamas captivity. The Palestinian militant group has spent weeks calling for serious talks on the ceasefire agreement’s second phase.

Both Israel and the United States blame the renewed hostilities on Hamas’ refusal to release more hostages before negotiations on ending the war proceed — which was not part of the ceasefire agreement. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is backing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s decision to unilaterally walk away from the ceasefire Trump took credit for brokering.