With Israel resuming military operations against Hamas after nearly two months of ceasefire, families of the remaining hostages still being held in Gaza are feeling abandoned.

“The greatest fear of the families, the kidnapped, and the citizens of Israel has come true,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement this morning. “The Israeli government chose to give up the hostages.”

An estimated 59 hostages are still being held in Gaza of the 251 innocent people abducted by Hamas during their October 7 2023 attack against Israel. Of those at lease half are believed to have been murdered by the Iranian backed terror group.

After weeks of stalled talks, Israel returned to military action overnight with a fresh round of airstrikes across Gaza. Despite recent tensions between Netanyahu and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, both were at military headquarters with IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir as the operation got underway.

Hamas’s Ministry of Health says at least 326 people were killed in the strikes, including women and children.

According to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, the operation was due to Hamas’s repeated refusal to release the hostages and their rejection of proposals to extend the ceasefire.

“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” the prime minister’s office said.

Among those targeted were Hamas commanders and infrastructure tied to terror activity. Sources close to the matter tell the Associated Press that the plan had been approved by government ministers late last week with U.S. support.

The IDF has also issued evacuation orders for areas near the Gaza border. Residents in Beit Hanoun, Khuza’a, and parts of Abasan have been told to leave and head for shelters in western Gaza City and Khan Younis “immediately.”