The Israeli military says it carried out a new wave of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip early on Tuesday morning. Media reports say more than 100 people have been killed in the offensive.

The Israeli forces announced before dawn on Tuesday, local time, that they were striking targets in Gaza associated with the Palestinian group Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement saying the action was because Hamas repeatedly refused to accept a US proposal to extend the current ceasefire and release hostages.

Netanyahu said, "Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength."

Both Reuters news agency and Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera have quoted medical staff as saying that more than 100 people, including many children, have been killed across the strip.

Israeli forces have conducted sporadic attacks on Gaza with drones and other weapons and caused some casualties, as talks over the extension of the ceasefire agreement have been stalled.

But the latest wave of airstrikes is believed to be the largest Israeli attack on Gaza since the ceasefire started in January.

Hamas released a statement, saying Netanyahu and his government have decided to overturn the ceasefire agreement, exposing the hostages to an unknown fate.

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