Israel resumes war against Hamas after the group refused to extend the ceasefire deal

Benjamin Netanyahu has warned ceasefire negotiations will only continue ‘under fire’ as Israel attacks killed more than 400 people including civilians, shattering the two-month-old ceasefire.

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Israel has finally lost patience with Hamas in Gaza, launching a blistering attack against the terror group and warning it will keep fighting until the remaining hostages are released.

In a televised address on Wednesday (AEDT), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the strikes were “only the beginning” of Israeli action and ceasefire negotiations would “take place only under fire”.

“Hamas has already felt the strength of our hand in the past 24 hours. And I want to promise you - and them - this is only the beginning,” Mr Netanyahu said.

“From now on, negotiations will take place only under fire,” he said, adding: “Military pressure is essential for the release of additional hostages.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening:

“Hamas is responsible for this war.

It invaded our towns, murdered our people, raped our women and kidnapped our loved ones.

Hamas refused offer after offer to release our hostages.https://t.co/9uFyUkWvhypic.twitter.com/NFOFtfjpJB

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) March 18, 2025

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar warned the strikes were “not a one-day attack”, adding Israel would “continue the military operation in the coming days”.

The dramatic surprise assault on Hamas strongholds – which killed more than 400 people and injured over 500, including civilians – shattered the two-month-old ceasefire and could herald the start of a final all-out assault by Israel in Gaza.

The apparent resumption of the war was timed by Israel to catch the Hamas leadership by surprise, after the group repeatedly refused Israel’s attempts to negotiate an extension to the ceasefire deal.

The move is a high-stakes gamble by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to try to pressure Hamas into agreeing to an extension of the ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages. But if fighting continues, it could gravely jeopardise the lives of the 24 surviving hostages and will inevitably lead to heavy civilian casualties in Gaza.

A view of destruction at the Nuseirat Refugee Camp. Picture: Getty Images

Israel said it launched the series of attacks on central and southern Gaza because of the “repeated refusal” by Hamas “to release our hostages”. It said the militants had rejected all proposals from Steve Witkoff, the US envoy to the Middle East, and other mediators.

“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” Mr Netanyahu’s office stated.

Hamas accused Israel of deciding to “overturn the ceasefire agreement, exposing the prisoners in Gaza to an unknown fate”.

The attack comes after another round of failed talks between Hamas, the US and other mediators aimed at extending the ceasefire in return for the release of half of the surviving hostages.

But Mr Witkoff said Hamas had refused to consider the US-backed proposal and he warned the group earlier this week that they needed “to get much more sensible than they have been”.

Hamas did not want to extend the ceasefire but instead wanted to begin stage two of the three-stage ceasefire plan which would involve a permanent end to the war, the release of all hostages and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Mr Netanyahu says he will not remove all Israeli troops from Gaza while Hamas has a military capability and while it remains as the administrative body in Gaza.

Importantly, the Trump administration has backed the ­Israeli attack and says it was tipped off by Israel beforehand.

“Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war,” White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer the country’s return to fighting in Gaza had been “fully coordinated with Washington”.

“Israel has thanked President Trump and his administration for their unyielding support for Israel,” he said at a press briefing.

US President Donald Trump has previously warned that “all hell will break” loose if Hamas does not release the hostages and he has not ruled out US military action against Hamas.

Hamas has refused to willingly give up power in the enclave despite both Israel and the US insisting that there is no place for Hamas in a future Gaza after its cross-border massacre of 1200 Israelis on October 7, 2023.

The first phase of the ceasefire ended on March 1 after Hamas returned 33 hostages, some of them dead, in exchange for the release of more than 1700 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli custody.

Injured Palestinians taken to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital for treatment. Picture: Getty Images

But there has never been agreement about how to implement stage two of the deal. Unless Hamas quickly agrees to an extended ceasefire-to-hostage deal then the final military phase of the 16-month conflict is likely to play out as Israeli forces, from both air and ground, seek to finally cripple what remains of Hamas’ leadership and its fighting force.

But it is unclear how such a victory might ultimately be won given Israel failed to eliminate all of the Hamas leadership or fully destroy its fighting force despite 14 months of combat which left more than 40,000 people dead, according to the Hamas-run health authority in Gaza.

The Israeli assault coincides with large US military strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen this week as the Trump administration seeks to end the group’s attacks on international shipping lanes in the Red Sea.

Mr Trump has warned Iran will be held responsible for attacks by the Houthis because Iran is the chief sponsor of the terror group.

With his attacks on the Houthis and his support for Israel’s latest assault on Hamas in Gaza, Mr Trump is seeking to walk a fine line between being tough on terrorism while avoiding plunging the US into another conflict in the Middle East.