Houthis launch missile at Israel, IDF kills terror officials in widespread strikes in Gaza

At around 2 a.m. on Tuesday morning, the IDF and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) started conducting dozens of extensive air strikes specifically on mid-level Hamas commanders and some senior Hamas political officials in Gaza. It was unclear if they were targeting senior Hamas commanders like Mohammed Sinwar, who might be holding Israeli hostages nearby.

Nearly eight hours after the IDF renewed the strikes, Hamas hasn't managed to fire a single rocket into Israel.

At around 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, IDF Arabic Spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee sent out a message to Gaza residents to move further into Gaza, away from the border with Israel, to avoid being attacked as part of the renewed hostilities.

The red zone, defined as a combat zone by the IDF, wraps around all Gaza from north to south, seeming to cover between one-third to one-half of the Strip's area, including Beit Hanun, Harvat, Hazza, and Abasan.

More specifically, the IDF said that civilians should move to the western parts of Gaza City in the north and of Khan Yunis in the south. No more specific instructions were given in central Gaza.

Abu Hamza, the spokesman for the terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, was killed in an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip, Saudi news outlet Al Hadath reported Tuesday morning.

IDF, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), and Police forces began an operation in Nablus overnight, the military said on Tuesday. 

An Israel Air Force aircraft struck cannons in southern Syria that posed a threat to Israel, the military said on Tuesday. 

Israel's wave of a large-scale attacks on Hamas in Gaza on Monday night were neither a full-scale war nor a specific threat of a ground operation, but an action aimed at convincing Hamas to agree to the framework presented in recent days by US President Donald Trump's administration.

Jerusalem did not hide its intent to launch a broad wave of airstrikes on Gaza from the United States.

However, "there was no need for a green light because Trump gave us the option to open the gates of hell," an Israeli source told the Jerusalem Post.

Minister Ron Dermer updated senior members of the Trump administration that Israel would begin an aerial assault on Gaza to try to pressure Hamas to change its demands in the hostage deal," the Israeli source said.

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas are stalled. While discussions are ongoing, nothing has progressed since Hamas insisted on the sole release of American-Israeli dual national Edan Alexander, and the return of four murdered hostages in exchange for 50 additional days of ceasefire.

Therefore, Israel characterized Monday night's attacks as a means to "increase pressure on Hamas to agree to the release of hostages."

Israelis freed from Hamas captivity expressed on Tuesday their feelings of distress and fear for the remaining hostages as Israel returned to fighting in Gaza, launching Operation Strength and Sword. 

Eliya Cohen, released in the recent hostage deal, called the return to fighting a "death sentence" for the hostages.

"I'm sorry, my brothers," he said to hostages Alon Ohel and Elkana Bohbot on Instagram.

Romi Gonen: I am begging, let's keep fighting for the hostages

"My heart broke this morning," freed hostage Romi Gonen said on Instagram.

"I won't forget the moment in captivity when I heard the booms and understood that the deal was blown up and that I wouldn't be back soon."

"I am begging, Am Yisrael, we need to keep fighting for them."

She called on the government to "bring them out," saying it is "the most urgent thing. They are out of time."

For four days, the US has been striking the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. For one day, the IDF has been striking Hamas in Gaza. This leaves Iran in confusion and not knowing how to respond.

This is because Iran is concerned that the US strikes could escalate and that Iran is not ready for a major confrontation. On the other hand, Iran’s supreme leader has told the country not to trust any opening from the Trump administration.

This leaves Tehran in a bind.

Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Tuesday demanded immediate international action to compel Israel to implement an immediate ceasefire, abide by the Gaza ceasefire agreement and return to negotiations.

Israeli airstrikes pounded Gaza, killing more than 400 people, Palestinian health authorities said earlier, threatening the complete collapse of a two-month ceasefire as Israel vowed to use more force to free hostages held by Palestinian terror group Hamas.