Netanyahu's war cabinet meets: IDF warns all Israelis as Gaza strikes could trigger Nationwide conflict

The high-level conference with senior defense officials comes as Israel evaluates its next steps in the escalating conflict.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) launched extensive strikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, targeting Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad positions. According to a joint statement from the military and intelligence agencies, the operation has focused on terrorist cells, launch sites, weapons stockpiles, and military infrastructure used by these organizations.

Arab media reports indicate that among those killed was Issam al-Da'alis, described as Hamas's equivalent of a "Prime Minister," marking a significant blow to the organization's leadership. The Hamas-controlled Gaza Information Ministry claims that over 300 people have been killed in the strikes, though these figures have not been independently verified.

Despite the renewed hostilities, Hamas has reportedly expressed interest in restoring the ceasefire and returning to hostage negotiations. A Hamas spokesperson told Reuters that communication with ceasefire mediators remains ongoing, and the group is "keen to complete the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire deal."

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar personally oversaw the military operation from the Kirya base in Tel Aviv, highlighting the strategic importance of the offensive. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Israel had consulted with the United States before launching the attack.

In a stark warning, Leavitt added, "All hell will break loose, and all of the terrorists in the Middle East, again, the Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas, Iranian-backed terror proxies, and Iran themselves should take President Trump very seriously when he says he is not afraid to stand for law-abiding people. He is not afraid to stand up for the United States of America and our friend and our ally, Israel."

Meanwhile, the IDF Home Front Command has issued a precautionary alert to Israeli citizens nationwide, suggesting that the conflict could potentially spread beyond the Gaza envelope. Brigadier General (Res.) Chilik Sofer, the Home Front Command's public relations officer, advised Israelis throughout the country to prepare their shelters, stating, "Most of the country is not under restrictions, but every citizen must know how to go from 0 to 100, not only in the Gaza envelope. I recommend that everyone around the country prepare shelters. There is no way to know what the day may bring."

The escalation comes after Hamas reportedly refused to release hostages captured during previous conflicts, prompting Israel to resume military operations after a period of relative calm.