The fragile ceasefire in Gaza collapsed as Israeli airstrikes pummeled the region, killing more than 400 people, according to Palestinian health authorities. The latest escalation follows weeks of relative calm amid stalled negotiations for a permanent peace agreement.
Ceasefire in Jeopardy
The truce, which had largely held since January, provided a temporary respite for Gaza’s 2 million residents, many of whom live amid the ruins of past conflicts. However, both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire terms.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the renewed military operation by stating that Hamas had rejected proposals aimed at extending the ceasefire.
“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” read a statement from Netanyahu’s office.
Heavy Bombardment Across Gaza
According to eyewitness accounts, Israeli strikes targeted homes and tent encampments across Gaza, from north to south, while tanks shelled from across the border. The Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry confirmed that 404 people were killed, marking one of the deadliest days since the war erupted.
“It was a night of hell. It felt like the first days of the war,” said Rabiha Jamal, a 65-year-old Gaza City resident.
“We were preparing to have something to eat before starting a new day of fasting when the building shook and explosions began. We thought it was over, but war is back,” she told Reuters.
International Reactions
The latest violence has drawn sharp condemnation from international mediators and human rights organizations. Egypt and Qatar, both key brokers in the ceasefire negotiations, denounced Israel’s renewed military campaign. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani urged immediate international intervention to ensure Israel abides by ceasefire agreements and resumes negotiations.
Russia expressed “deep regret” over the escalation, while U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk stated he was “horrified” by the scale of the bombardment.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The renewed strikes have pushed Gaza’s already strained hospitals to the brink. As casualties poured in, medical facilities struggled to manage the growing number of dead and wounded. Witnesses described scenes of bodies stacked in plastic sheets, many of them children.
Palestinian authorities reported 562 injuries alongside the 404 deaths. Meanwhile, Israel’s decision to halt aid deliveries for over two weeks has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leaving many without food, water, or medical supplies.
Hamas Leadership Targeted
Among those killed in the latest strikes were several senior Hamas officials, including Essam Addalees, the head of the Hamas-run government, Ahmed Al-Hetta, deputy justice minister, and Mahmoud Abu Watfa, the head of Hamas’ security services, according to Hamas sources.
Despite the renewed offensive in Gaza, Israeli forces have also escalated their military operations in the occupied West Bank and launched strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon and Syria. In anticipation of potential retaliatory attacks, Israeli authorities have opened bomb shelters in multiple locations, including Tel Aviv.
Deadlock in Ceasefire Negotiations
The latest escalation comes amid ongoing ceasefire talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar. Prior to the collapse of the truce, negotiations had facilitated the release of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel, backed by the United States, had been pushing for an extension of the ceasefire in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages. However, Hamas insisted on negotiating a permanent end to the war, coupled with a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, as stipulated in the original ceasefire agreement.
Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua told Reuters that the group remains in contact with mediators and is committed to the implementation of the initial agreement. Meanwhile, Egyptian officials are engaged in intensive discussions to salvage the ceasefire before the conflict spirals further out of control.
Gaza in Ruins
The war, which erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen launched an attack on Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people, has left Gaza devastated. According to Palestinian health authorities, more than 48,000 people have been killed since the start of Israel’s military campaign, with much of the enclave’s infrastructure, including hospitals, reduced to rubble.
As the world watches, the fate of Gaza hangs in the balance, with no clear resolution in sight. International pressure is mounting for an immediate cessation of hostilities, but with both sides entrenched in their positions, the road to peace remains uncertain.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Reuters. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
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