Israel shattered a fragile ceasefire with Hamas early Tuesday by launching airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, killing more than 400 Palestinians, including a majority of women and children, according to local health officials. The strikes marked the deadliest bombardment in a 17-month war, raising fears of an all-out conflict.
Ceasefire Collapse and Renewed Hostilities
The ceasefire, originally brokered in January after more than a year of negotiations involving the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, was designed as a three-phase process. The first phase had ended two weeks ago, but negotiations for the second phase, which aimed to secure a long-term ceasefire, faltered. Israel refused to engage in substantive talks while Hamas rejected Israeli demands to modify the existing agreement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the latest military offensive, citing Hamas’ refusal to alter the ceasefire terms. Israeli military officials described the operation as “open-ended” and indicated an expansion was imminent. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also ordered evacuations in eastern Gaza, signaling the possibility of renewed ground operations.
Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
The strikes come amid worsening conditions in Gaza, where aid groups have warned of imminent catastrophe. Two weeks prior, Israel had cut off all food, medicine, fuel, and essential supplies to Gaza’s 2 million residents, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. The timing of the assault during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has intensified concerns about further devastation in the region.
International Reactions
The White House acknowledged that it had been consulted before the strikes and expressed support for Israel’s actions. The U.S. government blamed Hamas for the escalation, stating that the militant group had “chosen war” by refusing to release hostages.
France condemned Israel’s renewed bombardment, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities to protect Palestinian civilians and to ensure the release of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas. Russia also condemned the strikes, calling them the deadliest since the ceasefire began. The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed deep regret over Israel’s actions, stating, “Russia strongly condemns any action that leads to the death of civilians and destruction of social infrastructure.”
Iran also denounced the airstrikes, describing them as a “continuation of genocide and ethnic cleansing” while accusing the United States of bearing “direct responsibility” for the attacks due to its unwavering support for Israel.
The Fate of Hostages and Prospects for Peace
One of the primary sticking points in negotiations has been the issue of hostages. Hamas has demanded a complete end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops in exchange for the release of remaining Israeli hostages. Israel, however, maintains that it will not halt military operations until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are freed—two objectives that appear increasingly irreconcilable.
During the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 25 living hostages and the remains of eight others in exchange for nearly 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. However, a new Israeli proposal called for Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in return for a temporary ceasefire, without offering further Palestinian prisoner releases. Hamas rejected the revised plan, accusing Israel of deliberately undermining the existing agreement.
Unless mediators intervene, the renewed assault signals a return to full-scale war in a conflict that has already killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and left much of Gaza in ruins. As airstrikes continue and the humanitarian situation worsens, the world watches anxiously, fearing that diplomacy may no longer be able to contain the escalating violence.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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