Explosions were seen over the Gaza skyline on Tuesday night.

It came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the army to immediately carry out “powerful strikes” in the Palestinian territory.

Witnesses also reported sound of tank shelling in Central Gaza.

Benjamin Netanyahu's decision comes after an Israeli official reported that Hamas fired on Israeli forces in southern Gaza.

Hamas has delayed handing over another hostage’s body in response to Israel’s planned strikes.

On Monday, the Palestinian militant group handed over body parts that Israel identified as the remains of a hostage recovered earlier in the war, which Netanyahu called a violation of the ceasefire.

The ceasefire, which began on October 10, has been fragile, with previous flare-ups. The situation remains tense, with ongoing challenges to the ceasefire.