Mar 18, Kathmandu- At least 326 Palestinians were killed in Israel's latest attack in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, following a January ceasefire. Rescue workers have put the death toll at at least 326, according to international media.

Al Jazeera reported that Israel carried out heavy attacks across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, including in the southern Gaza Strip, Khan Yunis and Rafah, and in the central areas of Gaza City and Deir al-Balah in the north.

According to Al Jazeera, most of the casualties were children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

“The bodies of 326 martyrs have arrived at Gaza hospitals,” the Palestinian health minister said, adding that “many more victims are still under the rubble.”

Hamas, which rules Gaza, said it viewed the Israeli attack as a unilateral cancellation of a ceasefire that began on January 19.

Hamas also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deciding to “restart the war” after a stalemate over extending the ceasefire.

The White House confirmed that Israel consulted with US President Donald Trump’s administration before launching the wave of attacks. Rescuers said most of the casualties were women, children and the elderly.

“The operation was ordered after Hamas repeatedly refused to release our hostages, as well as after it rejected all offers from US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and mediators,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. “Israel will now take action against Hamas with increasing military force.”

An Israeli official said the military operation was expected to “continue for as long as necessary” and “expand beyond airstrikes.”

“Netanyahu and his extremist government have decided to reverse the ceasefire agreement,” Hamas said in a statement.

Accusing the Israeli prime minister of using the conflict as a political “lifeline” to survive internal crises, Hamas said, “Netanyahu’s decision to resume the war is a decision to sacrifice the prisoners in his custody and execute them.”

AFP footage showed people rushing stretchers with the wounded, including young children, into the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis. Bodies, covered in white sheets, were also taken to the hospital’s morgue.