An official of the Israel Defense Forces told NBC News that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for strikes in retaliation for a Hamas attack in Rafah.

Israel launched a series of air strikes on Gaza, killing more than 100 people, after a soldier’s death prompted its defence minister to warn Hamas leaders of “no immunity”.

Israel has launched airstrikes on the Gaza strip after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had violated the ceasefire agreement. Hamas is accused of handing over remains that were not those of an Israeli hostage slated for return as part of the peace deal.

Bodies were brought to a hospital in the Gaza Strip late Tuesday after at least seven Palestinians were killed in a barrage of Israeli attacks which threatened the two-week-old ceasefire.

The area Israel controls in the Gaza Strip will be expanded beyond the Yellow Line following repeated ceasefire violations by Hamas.