Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu orders immediate ‘powerful’ strikes on Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the country’s military to launch “powerful” airstrikes on Gaza on Tuesday, imperiling the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

“Following security consultations, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed the military echelon to carry out powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip immediately,” his office said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear if the strikes had been launched.

Earlier, Netanyahu said that the remains of a hostage returned by Hamas overnight were body parts of another hostage who was recovered in Gaza by Israeli troops almost two years ago.

Under the truce, Hamas is expected to return all Israeli hostage remains as soon as possible.

Netanyahu’s instructions come just weeks after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire. The deal saw the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and prompted high hopes that fighting between the two sides would end.