In the early hours of Tuesday, the Gaza Strip faced intense airstrikes from Israel, resulting in the deaths of at least 235 Palestinians, including many women and children, according to hospital sources. The unexpected military action ended a fragile ceasefire that had been in place since January, potentially reigniting the 17-month-old conflict.
The strikes were ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Hamas rejected modifications to the existing ceasefire. Israeli officials have indicated that this operation is open-ended and may broaden. The U.S. government was informed of the strikes and expressed its support for Israel’s actions.
Compounding fears of an expanded conflict, the Israeli military instructed residents in the eastern part of Gaza to move towards the center, hinting at possible ground maneuvers. Netanyahu’s office declared that Israel would now engage with Hamas using escalating military force.
This escalation disrupted the relative peace enjoyed during Ramadan and threatens to rekindle the deadly conflict that has already claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives and wrought immense destruction throughout Gaza. There are also urgent concerns regarding approximately two dozen Israeli hostages believed to be alive and still held by Hamas.
A Hamas leader called Netanyahu’s return to military tactics a “death sentence” for the hostages. He suggested that these attacks were motivated by attempts to bolster Netanyahu’s political standing and urged mediators to clarify who violated the truce.
So far, no retaliation from Hamas has been reported, suggesting a desire to restore the ceasefire. Meanwhile, Netanyahu faces heavy criticism domestically, with planned protests against his management of the hostage crisis and recent security decisions, including the firing of Israel’s internal security agency head.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum accused the government of abandoning a peaceful resolution for hostages, expressing shock and anger at the situation’s deterioration.
Casualties from the airstrikes continue to flood hospitals across Gaza. In Rafah, 17 members of a single family perished when their home was targeted. In Khan Younis, scenes of devastation unfolded with ongoing explosions, sending waves of injured to local hospitals.
Expectations of renewed conflict had simmered among many Palestinians after talks for a ceasefire extension stalled in February. In response to Hamas’ refusal to alter terms, Israel implemented a blockade, halting all humanitarian aid to pressure Hamas.
The current death toll from overnight strikes includes only those confirmed by seven major hospitals, with smaller facilities still counting their losses.
The U.S. publicly holds Hamas responsible for renewed hostilities. A National Security Council spokesperson stated that Hamas’s failure to release hostages contributed to the escalation.
An Israeli official reported that the military is targeting Hamas’s leadership and infrastructure, with plans to increase operations. The official accused Hamas of exploiting recent ceasefires to regroup and plan future attacks.
The Israeli Defense Minister warned of severe consequences unless hostages are freed, pledging to continue military efforts until all goals, including hostages’ release, are achieved.
After a negotiation period allowed for the release of some hostages and prisoners, talks for a second phase faltered without agreement on a definitive ceasefire and complete hostages’ release. Hamas demands an end to Israeli occupation in exchange, while Israel insists on dismantling Hamas’s military power first.
Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of repeatedly thwarting U.S. and other international mediators’ efforts to negotiate hostages’ release.
A senior Hamas official condemned the renewed Israeli assaults, framing the international community’s role as pivotal in either permitting renewed aggression or ensuring peace in Gaza.
The resurgence of hostilities follows a catastrophic event in October 2023, where Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, resulting in over a thousand Israeli deaths, largely civilians, and taking numerous hostages. Israel’s subsequent military response reportedly led to substantial Palestinian casualties and mass displacements in Gaza.
Despite the recent halt in major conflict, Israel continues to face internal pressure over the war’s and its own conflicting political approaches. With mass protests planned, Netanyahu’s recent government actions, such as security abuses and alleged corruption, have fueled further public dissent.
The truce in Gaza, brokered mainly by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, remains a flickering hope for easing tensions. Israel seeks partial hostage releases in exchange for negotiating a comprehensive truce, contradicting Hamas’s conditions for a full truce based on earlier ceasefire deals.
