Dhaka, March 19 -- Israel carried out widespread airstrikes across Gaza early Tuesday, killing over 400 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The attacks, which shattered a ceasefire in place since January, were launched as Israel sought to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages and relinquishing control of the territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes after Hamas rejected a demand to free half of the remaining hostages in exchange for extending the ceasefire. The bombardment-the deadliest in the 17-month war-claimed the lives of many women and children, the Gaza Health Ministry reported.

Netanyahu declared the offensive was "only the beginning" and vowed to continue military operations u...