Following Israel’s resumption of attacks in Gaza, Hamas made a statement. Hamas clarified that they did not reject the ceasefire proposal by Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy for the Middle East. Hamas Spokesperson Abdullatif El-Kanu, in a written statement, reminded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began attacks on the Gaza Strip in order to derail the agreement. Kanu emphasized that Hamas did not reject Witkoff’s offer regarding a prisoner swap, stating, “The movement is in constant contact with mediators, showing a responsible and positive approach towards halting aggression and lifting the blockade. The occupiers closed the crossings, tightened the siege, blocked the entry of aid, and rejected the second stage of negotiations to break the agreement and restart the war.” Hamas responded positively to the proposal for the delivery of the remains of Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who is also a US citizen, as well as 4 individuals with dual US-Israeli citizenship. However, Witkoff deemed this response as “unacceptable.”

ISRAEL BREAKS CEASEFIRE
The Israeli army resumed violent attacks in the Gaza Strip following the ceasefire that took effect on January 19th. In the air strikes carried out on the morning of March 18th in the Gaza Strip, at least 400 people, mostly women and children, lost their lives, with over 500 Palestinians being injured. A statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office indicated that the attacks were initiated upon the orders of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz. Israel, breaking the ceasefire, announced that they will act against Hamas with “increasing military strength.” Hamas, on the other hand, declared that “Israel has not kept its promises and, by failing to fulfill its responsibilities in front of mediator countries during the ceasefire, has restarted genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.” The families of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip accused the Netanyahu government of “giving up on the prisoners” and stated that the government’s excuse for restarting the war was “a complete deception.” Opposition parties in Israel also pointed out the resumption of attacks under the shadow of controversial political moves such as the dismissal of the Shin-Bet Director by Prime Minister Netanyahu.