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FAFO: Gaza ceasefire over as Hamas refuses to release hostages

March 18, 2025 | | Print Article

After roughly two months, Hamas’ ongoing refusal regarding hostages found Israel abandoning the ceasefire and vowing, “the gates of hell will open in Gaza…”

Following ample opportunity to come to an agreement to release the remaining hostages held for more than 525 days, the Islamist terrorist organization’s decision to “‘F’ around” set them up to “find out,” early Tuesday morning. Along with coordinated strikes in Lebanon and Syria, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ended the ceasefire that had begun on Jan. 19 as they took aim at Hamas targets in Gaza.

Offering an explanation for the strikes, the office of Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz released a letter that read in part, “In order to achieve the war objectives set by the political leadership, including the release of all our hostages–both the living and the fallen,” the IDF was targeting the terrorists throughout the strip.

“This decision comes after Hamas repeatedly refused to release our hostages and rejected all proposals presented by U.S. President’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, as well as the mediators,” continued the letter.

A joint statement from the IDF and the Israel Security Agency (ISA), Shin Bet, noted the plan had been presented late last week and approved, “In accordance with the political echelon, the IDF and ISA are currently conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.”

Katz explained, “Tonight, we returned to fighting in Gaza due to Hamas’ refusal to release the hostages and threats to harm IDF soldiers and Israeli communities.”

“If Hamas does not release all the hostages, the gates of hell will open in Gaza, and Hamas’ murderers and rapists will meet the IDF with forces they have never known before,” he went on as hostages have been held since the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack on Israel.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also released a statement on Hamas’ refusal to release both the living and the dead hostages that remain and expressed, “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength. The operation plan was presented by the IDF over the weekend and approved by the political leadership.”

Meanwhile, the Associated Press presented the often-questioned figures from the Gaza Health Ministry that had thus far claimed over 400 people had been killed and over 660 had been wounded with those numbers including women and children.

“The surprise attack shattered a period of relative calm during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and raised the prospect of a full return to fighting in a 17-month war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and caused widespread destruction across Gaza,” reported the AP.

Hamas blamed Netanyahu “and the Nazi-Zionist occupation fully responsible for the repercussions of the treacherous aggression on Gaza, and for the defenseless civilians and our besieged Palestinian people, who are subjected to a brutal war and a systemic policy of starvation.”

Following an evacuation order for the people in Gaza, Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst noted the likelihood that “the renewed war could have a ground component.”

Kevin Haggerty
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