New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) Amid resumption of hostilities, India on Wednesday voiced concern over the situation in Gaza and said that it is important that all the hostages are released and for humanitarian assistance to continue.



In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said:



“We are concerned at the situation in Gaza.



“It is important that all hostages are released.



“We also call for supply of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza to be sustained.”



Israel conducted multiple strikes on the Gaza Strip killing the head of the Hamas government and other key terrorist leaders following the collapse of the ceasefire agreement.



The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA), also known as Shin Bet, said in a joint statement that the airstrikes eliminated Essam al-Da'alis, head of the Hamas government and "the most senior figure of authority in the Gaza Strip."



"Essam al-Da'alis replaced Rawhi Mushtaha in this position after he was eliminated in July 2024. In his role, al-Da'alis was responsible for the functioning of Hamas' terror regime in the Gaza Strip and oversaw the integration of all of Hamas’ branches in Gaza and their use for terrorist purposes," the statement said.



The IDF and ISA also determined with "high probability" that Israeli strikes eliminated Mahmoud Marzouk Ahmed Abu-Watfa, the Minister of Internal Affairs in charge of Hamas' Internal Security Forces; Bahajat Hassan Mohammed Abu-Sultan, who served as Head of Hamas' Internal Security Forces; and Ahmed Amar Abdullah Alhata, who served as Hamas' Minister of Justice.



Over the past day, the IDF said it "struck dozens of terror targets and terrorists throughout the Gaza Strip, including mid-level and senior-ranking terrorists in Hamas' Political Bureau."



At least 404 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed in the airstrikes so far, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. The death toll has not been independently verified.



President Donald Trump's administration backed Israel's move to end the ceasefire in a statement on Monday.



"Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war," National Security Council (NSC) spokesman Brian Hughes told Fox News.



Israel will intensify its military actions against Hamas moving forward, authorities said.

UNI RN