DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of over 400 Palestinians, local health officials reported. This assault shattered the ceasefire established since January and marks the deadliest bombardment during the prolonged conflict with Hamas, which has now entered its 17th month.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered these strikes after Hamas refused Israeli demands for alterations to the ceasefire agreement. Affected families include many women and children, as the Israeli military indicated the operation would be open-ended and expected to expand. The White House stated it was consulted and expressed support for Israel’s military actions.
With the onset of the assaults during the holy month of Ramadan, humanitarian organizations had been warning of dire conditions, as supplies were already running critically low after Israel cut off all food, medicine, fuel, and other goods from entering Gaza—a territory home to around 2 million Palestinians.
"Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength," Netanyahu's office stated. This escalation drew immediate condemnation from Hamas, which claimed the strikes equate to a “death sentence” for the remaining Israeli hostages, calling upon the international community to address the brutal turns of this conflict.
More than 404 were reported killed and over 560 injured as the airstrikes devastated multiple areas, including the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, as well as Gaza City. Al-Nasser Hospital received alarming influxes of victims, and distressing images emerged of civilians caught amid rubble, once again mourning their lost family members.
A resident of Gaza City, Nidal Alzaanin, expressed despair, saying, "Nobody wants to fight. Everyone is still suffering from the previous months." This sentiment reverberated across the territory, as the trauma of past conflicts was reignited by the renewed hostilities.
The airstrikes included multiple strikes on residential buildings. One attack claimed the lives of 17 members of one family, including young children, adding another layer to the already deep anguish among the population. "Families started to arrive at the local hospital with the remains of their children," said Ahmed Abu Rizq, recalling the panic and horror of the strikes.
While Hamas claimed the strikes targeted various senior officials within its ranks, estimates suggested the devastating impact of the campaign could extend beyond military objectives, deeply affecting civilians caught within the throes of conflict.
The strike followed stagnated negotiations following the ceasefire agreement, which had temporarily allowed for the release of some hostages by Hamas and the exchange of prisoners. The initial ceasefire, which began on January 19, allowed Hamas to release 25 hostages alongside the bodies of eight additional victims, traded for approximately 1,700 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel accused Hamas of obstructing negotiations for extending the ceasefire, asserting they had refused to release remaining captives and rejected opportunities presented by intermediaries from the U.S. Previously, 59 living hostages were still unaccounted for, raising fears among their families about their fates amid resumed hostilities.
The political stage within Israel saw Netanyahu under mounting pressure. With mass protests planned over his government's handling of this crisis, including his recent initiative to dismiss the head of the Shin Bet internal security agency, his actions dissent weaken public trust.
Families of the captives voiced shock and anger, condemning what they describe as the government’s abandonment of their loved ones. "We are shocked, angry and terrified by the deliberate dismantling of the process to return our loved ones from the terrible captivity of Hamas," said representatives from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
Since the conflict reignited, administrative gripes and opinions shifted among international observers. The White House pointed fingers at Hamas for the fighting's renewal, stating they could have released hostages to prolong the ceasefire; instead, they opted for conflict. National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes communicated this sentiment, assigning blame firmly onto Hamas for rejecting potential resolutions.
International response varied. Yemen’s Houthi rebels condemned the latest Israeli strikes, threatening renewed retaliation against Israeli interests, reinforcing regional tensions amid the conflict's escalation.
China's foreign ministry called for immediate actions to avert what they termed as a potential humanitarian disaster stemming from the situation, reaffirming the urgent call for peace and restraint.
Such developments reiterated the challenges surrounding the conflict, as residents of Gaza pondered their increasingly dire situation amid yet another spiral of violence, grappling with the multi-faceted challenge of safety, shelter, and survival.
Every military, humanitarian, and political element continues to interlace, casting shadows over the broader repercussions of this resurgent conflict. The question remains whether lasting peace can ever be within reach, or if lives will indefinitely remain hostage to the whims of military power and political maneuvering.
