UN Security Council session due to Gaza and new Israeli attacks

The meeting was planned even before Israel attacked Gaza on the night between Monday and Tuesday, writes the Times of Israel.

This morning's Israeli attack on Gaza killed at least 308 people, medical sources told Al Jazeera.

Among the victims are 154 people from the northern part of the territory, according to the same sources.

As previously stated, the attack took place after a deadlock in the negotiations on the extension of the ceasefire with Hamas.

It is the biggest attack since the beginning of the truce between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas in January, according to "The Guardian".

Israeli government officials said the operation was open and would expand.

The White House said it had been consulted and supported Israel's actions, and blamed Hamas for the renewed clashes.

US National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said the truce could have been extended if Hamas had released the hostages, but "instead, the group chose war."

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said "the gates of hell will be opened in Gaza" if the remaining hostages are not released.

Diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the US to mediate in the second phase of the truce have so far yielded no results, AP points out.

Hamas insists on the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages, while Israel refuses to end the war until it destroys the military and political structure of Hamas.