Over 400 Killed in Gaza as Israeli Strikes Resume, Ceasefire at Risk
Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza on Tuesday, killing more than 400 people, according to Palestinian health officials. This has pushed a two-month ceasefire to the brink of collapse. Israel says it is using force to free hostages still held by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group.
As reported by Reuters, Hamas still holds 59 of the roughly 250 hostages taken during its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire and risking efforts by mediators to secure a lasting peace deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the military to take “strong action” against Hamas because the group refused to release the remaining hostages and rejected ceasefire proposals. The Israeli military called the strikes a “preemptive offensive” to stop Hamas from rebuilding its forces and attacking Israel.
The airstrikes targeted homes and tent camps across Gaza, from north to south, and Israeli tanks fired into the area, according to witnesses. “It was a night of hell,” said Rabiha Jamal, a 65-year-old mother from Gaza City, speaking to Reuters. She described how explosions shook their building, making it feel like the early days of the war.
Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas, which remains the dominant force in Gaza despite being weakened by months of Israeli attacks. Among those killed in the strikes were high-ranking Hamas officials, including Essam Addalees, the de facto head of the Hamas government.
Egypt, a key mediator in the ceasefire deal, called for calm and urged both sides to work toward a lasting agreement. Meanwhile, tensions are rising across the Middle East, with the Gaza conflict spreading to Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq.
The airstrikes have given Netanyahu a political boost. Former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who left the government over disagreements about the ceasefire, is now rejoining Netanyahu’s coalition, strengthening his leadership.
The attacks mark a major escalation compared to recent Israeli drone strikes. They come after weeks of failed talks to extend the ceasefire that began on January 19. Witnesses told Reuters that Israeli tanks shelled areas in Rafah, southern Gaza, forcing families to flee again.
Hospitals in Gaza, already struggling after 15 months of war, are overwhelmed. The Hamas-run health ministry said 404 people were killed, one of the highest single-day death tolls since the war began. Many of the dead are children, and over 560 people were injured.
Israel has also stopped aid deliveries to Gaza for over two weeks, worsening the humanitarian crisis. The military warned that its operations could expand beyond airstrikes, possibly including ground troops.
In addition to Gaza, Israel has been active in the occupied West Bank, targeting Iranian-backed militant groups. Israeli jets have also struck targets in Lebanon and Syria, where tensions with Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah remain high.
Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, had been ongoing in Doha. The U.S.-backed deal aimed to free the remaining hostages in exchange for a longer truce. However, Hamas insists on a permanent end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua told Reuters that communication with mediators continues, and the group wants to complete the original ceasefire deal. Egyptian mediators were surprised by the airstrikes, as talks had been calm the day before. They are now working to salvage the ceasefire and restart negotiations.
The war, which began with Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has left much of Gaza in ruins. Over 48,000 people have been killed, according to Palestinian health authorities, and Gaza’s housing, infrastructure, and hospitals have been severely damaged.
This story highlights the tragic human cost of the conflict and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution.
Credit to Reuters for providing detailed reporting on this ongoing crisis.