Israel conducted airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 235 Palestinians, including women and children, as reported by hospital officials. Palestinian officials reported at least 44 deaths as the strikes shattered a period of relative calm during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the assault due to Hamas’ refusal to release hostages and engage in meaningful peace talks. “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” his office stated. Defense Minister Israel Katz added that “the gates of hell will open in Gaza” unless the remaining hostages are freed.
The operation is expected to expand beyond airstrikes, with Israeli officials accusing Hamas of using the ceasefire to regroup and rebuild its military capabilities. The renewed violence threatens to derail ongoing mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, which had been working toward a second phase of the truce.
Ceasefire in Jeopardy Amid Ongoing Hostage Crisis
The latest attack comes after Hamas and Israel failed to reach an agreement on a second-phase ceasefire. The initial truce, which began in January, saw the release of around three dozen Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, since the ceasefire ended two weeks ago, negotiations have stalled, with Hamas demanding a full Israeli military withdrawal in exchange for releasing the remaining captives. Israel insists that the war will continue until Hamas’ military and governing capabilities are destroyed.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff had warned Hamas over the weekend that it must release living hostages immediately “or pay a severe price.” Meanwhile, Hamas official Taher Nunu condemned Israel’s airstrikes, calling them an “unprovoked escalation” that jeopardizes the remaining captives’ fate.
Humanitarian Concerns Grow
The resumption of hostilities threatens to worsen Gaza’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. The war, which began on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas-led attack on Israel, has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, displaced nearly 90% of Gaza’s population, and caused widespread destruction. With food and aid deliveries already restricted, humanitarian agencies warn of a worsening catastrophe if the violence escalates further.
In Israel, tensions are also mounting. Mass protests are planned in response to Netanyahu’s handling of the war, as families of hostages continue to demand a ceasefire to secure their loved ones’ release. Meanwhile, political turmoil deepens as Netanyahu faces criticism over his reported plan to fire the head of Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet.