India, March 18 -- Israeli air strikes across the Palestinian enclave overnight resulted in mass casualties. Reports quoting Hamas-run health ministry say more than 400 people were killed and hundreds of others injured in the first major Israeli air strikes on Gaza since the ceasefire came into force on January 19.
The Israeli Prime Minister's office said its forces will "act against Hamas with increasing military strength" over Hamas' repeated refusal to release the remaining Israeli hostages, and rejecting proposals to extend the ceasefire.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said at a news conference that the ceasefire was agreed for a 42-day period, which ended two-and-a-half weeks ago.
The Israeli hostages' families ...