The Israeli military announced on Friday that its forces targeted dozens of locations throughout Gaza, including positions in northern areas and around Rafah in the south.
The strikes follow a breakdown in mediation efforts led by Egypt to revive a truce agreement reached in January, as first reported by Reuters.
Israel resumed its military campaign last month after a two-month pause collapsed. The Israeli Defence Forces said ground troops were currently active in Shabura and Tel Al-Sultan near Rafah, as well as in areas east of Gaza City. The military claims to have taken control of nearly a third of the enclave.
Hamas, which governs Gaza, dismissed Israel’s latest ceasefire proposal.
Khalil Al-Hayya, the group’s Gaza-based political leader, said on Thursday that Hamas was prepared to exchange all remaining 59 hostages for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, but only under the condition of a permanent ceasefire and a commitment to rebuild Gaza.
Al-Hayya called Israel’s offer “impossible” due to its demand that Hamas disarm and its lack of guarantees on ending the war.
The Israeli government has not issued a formal response, but senior officials have consistently stated that Hamas must be fully disarmed and excluded from any future governing authority in Gaza.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated earlier in the week that Israeli troops would remain stationed in a buffer zone within Gaza, even after a final agreement, effectively dividing the territory.
Despite renewed mediation attempts, a significant breakthrough remains unlikely, as both sides maintain firm positions on disarmament, governance, and the long-term status of Gaza.
Since October 2023, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in 51,065 deaths and 116,505 injuries, according to the Health Ministry.
The offensive resumed in March 2024 despite a temporary ceasefire earlier in the year.
Israel is currently facing international legal proceedings, including a genocide case at the International Court of Justice and arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against top Israeli leaders for alleged war crimes.