{"id":2413642,"date":"2025-03-18T08:39:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T12:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-strikes-target-hamas-leadership-after-hostage-returns-stall\/"},"modified":"2025-03-18T08:39:02","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T12:39:02","slug":"israel-strikes-target-hamas-leadership-after-hostage-returns-stall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-strikes-target-hamas-leadership-after-hostage-returns-stall\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel strikes target Hamas leadership after hostage returns stall"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fisrael-strikes-target-hamas-leadership-after-hostage-returns-stall%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2413642&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Israel strikes target Hamas leadership after hostage returns stall<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2018346\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/israel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Israel<\/a> launched an attack in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Gaza\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Gaza<\/a> overnight, killing hundreds of Palestinians, as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/3342348\/cracks-appear-trump-israel-ceasefire-negotiations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">fragile ceasefire<\/a> shattered.<\/p>\n<p>The nearly two-month ceasefire between Hamas and Israel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3350759\/gaza-ceasefire-ends-israel-launches-airstrikes-hamas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">ended Tuesday<\/a> after Israel launched the attack. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa&rsquo;ar said the country launched the attack on Gaza because ceasefire talks between the Jewish state and Hamas were coming to a &ldquo;dead end.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3350854\/idf-evacuation-warning-gaza-residents\/\">IDF issues evacuation warnings to residents of the Gaza Strip<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3349872\/key-questions-trump-putin-ceasefire-talk\/\">Key questions ahead of Trump-Putin ceasefire talk<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3350843\/north-korea-vows-strengthen-nuclear-capabilities\/\">North Korea vows to &lsquo;update and strengthen&rsquo; its nuclear capabilities<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;We had no alternative but to give the order to re-open fire,&rdquo; Sa&rsquo;ar told a conference in southern Israel. &ldquo;If we could achieve the same goals in a different way, fine. But if it&rsquo;s impossible to advance that way, you resume military operations.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Hamas said four of its leaders were killed in the attack, including Bahjat Abu Sultan, a leader of Hamas&rsquo;s internal security body, and Issam Da&rsquo;alis, a member of Hamas&rsquo;s Gaza leadership. The Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, has estimated the death toll at over 400 people and anticipates that number to grow as bodies are recovered from the rubble. The ministry didn&rsquo;t specify how many of those killed were militants. Another 500 are estimated to be injured.<\/p>\n<p>After the attack, the Israel Defense Forces <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3350854\/idf-evacuation-warning-gaza-residents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">sent<\/a> an evacuation warning to residents of northern and southern Gaza in a sign that more airstrikes were imminent. The Rafah crossing from Gaza into Egypt has been closed. That crossing had been the main avenue for sick or wounded Palestinians to receive care during the ceasefire.<\/p>\n<p>There are 58 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3349009\/hamas-release-american-hostage-eden-alexander-israel-ceasefire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">remaining hostages<\/a> in Gaza. Of those kidnapped on Oct. 7, 193 have been recovered. The families of the remaining hostages condemned the strikes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Israeli government has chosen to abandon the hostages,&rdquo; the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a social media post. &ldquo;We are horrified, furious and scared by the intentional shattering of the process of returning our loved ones from the terrible Hamas captivity.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The White House <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/3338367\/us-holding-talks-hamas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">was told<\/a> before the strikes took place that they would be occurring, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/3342348\/cracks-appear-trump-israel-ceasefire-negotiations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>CRACKS APPEAR BETWEEN TRUMP AND ISRAEL IN CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Some Israeli opposition politicians have said the strike and apparent end to the ceasefire are acting as a distraction after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his intelligence chief, Ronan Bar. A Cabinet vote on Bar&rsquo;s future had been set for Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Protests are expected to take place in Tel Aviv&rsquo;s Habima Square, with similar protests planned in Jerusalem on Tuesday and Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2018346\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2018346\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Israel strikes target Hamas leadership after hostage returns stall Israel launched an attack in Gaza overnight, killing hundreds of Palestinians, as the fragile ceasefire shattered. The nearly two-month ceasefire between Hamas and Israel ended Tuesday after Israel launched the attack. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar said the country launched the attack on Gaza because ceasefire<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2413643,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/gaza.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2413642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/gaza.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2413642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2413642"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2413642\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2413643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2413642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2413642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2413642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}