Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip have killed more than 200 Palestinians, including women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry. This marks the heaviest assault in the region since a ceasefire took effect in January.
The Israeli Defense Forces, in coordination with the Israeli Security Agency, confirmed the strikes, stating that they targeted Hamas infrastructure and operatives. The attacks have caused widespread destruction, further worsening the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The renewed offensive follows the breakdown of truce negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which collapsed over disagreements on the next phase of the ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the strikes due to a lack of progress in talks to extend the truce. Hamas, in response, accused Netanyahu of violating the ceasefire and endangering the remaining hostages. It called on mediators to hold Israel responsible for what it described as an escalation. Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, warned that if the hostages were not released, the situation in Gaza would escalate severely.
The conflict in Gaza erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a cross-border attack into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 civilians and taking 251 hostages. Israel has since pursued an extensive military campaign against Hamas.
A ceasefire agreement reached two months ago saw Hamas release 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, since the truce ended two weeks ago, efforts to negotiate the release of the remaining hostages have failed.
Hamas has insisted that Israel must withdraw its forces and end the war in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages. Israel, on the other hand, maintains that it will not stop military operations until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are freed.
A renewed Israeli ground offensive could prove particularly deadly, as many Palestinian civilians have returned home after seeking shelter in camps during earlier stages of the war. Meanwhile, international mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, continue efforts to revive negotiations and prevent further escalation.
