The heavy overnight airstrikes in the Gaza Strip which resulted in at least 400 Palestinians being killed, were carried out “in full coordination” with Washington, a spokesman for the Israeli government, David Menser.

“I am in a position to confirm that the resumption of intense fighting was carried out in full coordination with Washington,” he said during a press conference.

The White House confirmed last night that there was consultation between the Israeli and US governments before the Israeli strikes were launched, which killed at least 413 people, according to the latest provisional account from the Hamas health ministry.

Israel pledged today to continue its offensive on the Gaza Strip until all hostages are returned, following the bombing, the heaviest since the ceasefire went into effect, that it unleashed overnight on the Palestinian enclave.

Condemnation for strikes on Gaza

Qatar condemned the Israeli strikes on Gaza, stressing the need to resume negotiations in order to implement the phases of the ceasefire agreement between the warring parties.

Saudi Arabia also condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the Israeli strikes on “unarmed civilians” in Gaza that left more than 400 dead, according to the Hamas health ministry. “Saudi Arabia denounces and condemns in the strongest terms the resumption of aggression by the Israeli occupation forces (…) and their strikes on areas inhabited by unarmed civilians,” the Sunni kingdom’s foreign ministry stressed in a statement.

Russian diplomacy also in turn “strongly” condemned the resumption of Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, with Moscow saying it is “impossible” to resolve the issue of the hostages’ release “by the use of force.”

“Russia strongly condemns any action that leads to the death of civilians and the destruction of social infrastructure,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “Experience has shown that it is impossible to resolve the issue of hostage release by force,” it said, as Israel said it would continue its strikes until the return of those hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

For its part, the United Kingdom called for the ceasefire agreement to be resumed as soon as possible, with London expressing concern at the “appalling civilian casualties.”

“We want to see a return to the ceasefire agreement as soon as possible,” a spokesman for British Prime Minister Kir Starmer said.

For its part, France condemned the air strikes and called for an “immediate cessation” of hostilities, which Paris said were endangering efforts to free hostages and “threatening the lives of the civilian population in Gaza.”

“All parties must return to respecting the ceasefire in its entirety and engage in negotiations in good faith to ensure its sustainability,” a French foreign ministry spokesman said, deploring the “many victims” and urging the Israeli authorities “to ensure the permanent protection of all civilians.”