In the early hours of Tuesday, Israel intensified its military operations against the Gaza Strip, targeting several Hamas sites in what it described as the most significant offensive in the region since a January ceasefire. This surge of violence has resulted in at least 69 reported casualties, according to Palestinian authorities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the airstrikes were a response to the lack of progress in negotiations aimed at extending the ceasefire, and announced an open-ended military campaign intended to escalate further. “From now on, Israel will take more robust military actions against Hamas,” stated Netanyahu’s office.
The escalation shattered an uneasy calm that had lingered over the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, stirring fears of re-escalated conflict in a prolonged 17-month war that has already claimed the lives of over 48,000 Palestinians and wrought substantial devastation across Gaza. The attack also posed serious questions regarding the status of approximately two dozen Israeli hostages reportedly still alive in Hamas custody.
Hamas, in a retaliatory statement, condemned Israel’s actions as an “unprovoked escalation” and warned that it endangered the hostages’ lives. There was no immediate response from the United States, though U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff recently cautioned that Hamas must promptly release living hostages or face dire consequences.
An Israeli official, speaking anonymously about the unfolding events, revealed that the military’s current objective was to incapacitate Hamas’s operational, leadership, and infrastructural capabilities, with plans to extend beyond airstrikes. The official accused Hamas of attempting to regroup and plan further attacks, noting increased militant presence on the streets after the truce.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, delivered a stark warning that “the gates of hell will open in Gaza” if the hostages are not freed. “We will continue our operations until every hostage is safely returned and all our war objectives are met,” he insisted.
As explosions rang through Gaza, medical facilities across the region reported receiving casualties from the airstrikes, highlighting the civil defense agency’s struggles to conduct rescue operations amidst simultaneous bombardments.
Efforts to negotiate a second phase of the ceasefire have hit an impasse after a two-week lull following the initial agreement, which saw Hamas releasing about three dozen hostages in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. With little progress on the horizon, the prolongation of talks aimed at freeing the remaining hostages and concluding the war has stalled.
Hamas’s demands for the cessation of the hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, in return for releasing the hostages, contrast with Israel’s stance that it will not cease military action until Hamas’s military capabilities are dismantled and hostages liberated.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has consistently threatened to resume military actions, having recently halted food and aid deliveries into the beleaguered region to pressure Hamas. His office stated early Tuesday that this step was crucial after Hamas refused to release hostages and dismissed offers mediated by international entities.
Hamas official Taher Nunu criticized the latest Israeli military actions, urging the international community to take a stand either by condemning the attacks or enforcing a commitment to halting aggression in Gaza.
The outbreak of war following a Hamas cross-border attack in October 2023 resulted in significant casualties and chaos, with over 48,000 Palestinians reportedly killed and around 90% of Gaza’s populace displaced. With Gaza’s infrastructure severely damaged, the prospect of renewed conflict threatens to undo any strides made towards alleviating the humanitarian crisis.
Resumption of hostilities threatens to exacerbate internal Israeli discontent regarding the welfare of hostages. Many previously released hostages returned frail and described dire conditions, intensifying public demand for a continued ceasefire to secure the release of remaining captives.
Mass demonstrations have been organized in response to Netanyahu’s recent indication that he plans to dismiss the Shin Bet’s head, a move critics perceive as an effort to shift blame from earlier security failings.
While Israel’s forces have engaged with Palestinian individuals suspected of posing threats since the January truce began, the ceasefire had tenuously held without large-scale violence. The initial phase facilitated an exchange of captives brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S.
Israel remains firm on demanding the release of half of the remaining Hamas-held hostages in return for negotiations toward a sustained truce. Conversely, Hamas wants to uphold the terms of the earlier ceasefire, seeking comprehensive dialogue on its latter phase, which includes liberating hostages and retracting Israeli forces. Currently, Hamas is thought to hold 24 living hostages along with 35 deceased individuals.
