Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has said that Israel had “no alternative” other than to resume military operations in Gaza after its efforts to secure the release of hostages failed, AFP reports.

“Without the release of our hostages, Israel has no alternative but resuming military operations”, he said on X after Israeli strikes killed more than 400 people in Gaza, accusing Hamas of rejecting an offer to extend the ceasefire’s first phase that ended earlier this month.