# Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has urged Hamas to free all hostages, saying their captivity provided Israel with excuses to attack the territory. At least 18 people were killed across the Gaza Strip by Israeli strikes today, while Germany, France and Britain urge Israel to end its blockade on aid. Israel resumed its military campaign on 18 March. That brought an end to the ceasefire that had largely paused hostilities and resulted in the release of 33 hostages from Gaza and approximately one-thousand-800 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
Abbas urges Hamas to free all hostages as Israel continues strikes on Gaza