In a significant escalation of conflict, Israel conducted its most intensive air and ground strikes on the Gaza Strip since a January ceasefire, resulting in the reported deaths of at least 220 people, primarily women, children, and the elderly. This military operation was characterized by Hamas as a decision by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “resume war” after what they described as a stalemate in negotiations aimed at extending the ceasefire.
The White House confirmed that the Israeli government consulted with the Trump administration prior to these attacks, which have been met with widespread condemnation due to their devastating toll on civilian life. In a statement, Netanyahu’s office attributed the renewed military action to Hamas’s continuous refusal to release hostages and to accept proposals put forth by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and other mediators. The Israeli government vowed to increase its military efforts against Hamas, suggesting that the current operation would “continue as long as necessary” and could expand beyond air strikes.
Hamas responded by accusing Netanyahu’s administration of overturning the ceasefire agreement, framing the military action as a politically motivated decision aimed at diverting attention from domestic challenges faced by the Israeli Prime Minister. The group claimed that the continuation of conflict could put the lives of Israeli hostages in jeopardy and criticized Israel for its aggressive strategy.
Reports from the ground described scenes of chaos and destruction, with emergency responders rushing injured civilians to hospitals amid the aftermath of relentless bombardment. Witness accounts provided harrowing descriptions of the violence, with one resident from Khan Yunis recalling horrific sights of destruction and loss, where he witnessed “more than twenty martyrs and wounded, most of them children and women.” Another local, Ramez Alammarin, lamented the overwhelming carnage, stating, “They unleashed the fire of hell again on Gaza.”
This renewed wave of violence arises after a truce that began in January, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, which briefly halted extensive fighting that had surged following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Although the initial phase of the ceasefire had led to significant release exchanges—Hamas freed 33 hostages while Israel released approximately 1,800 Palestinian detainees—subsequent negotiations for further steps stalled. Both Hamas and Israel have struggled to agree on the terms for a second phase of the truce, amid ongoing tensions and mutual accusations.
In anticipation of potential backlash from the renewed conflict, the Israeli government ordered the closure of all schools in regions surrounding Gaza, a precautionary measure reflecting fears of extended hostilities. As discussions remained futile, the urgency for a resolution intensified, with the U.S. envoy suggesting an unaccepted proposal by Hamas involved a potential exchange that could include the release of living hostages in exchange for a large number of Palestinian prisoners.
Compounding the humanitarian crisis, fresh reports indicated that Israeli airstrikes, while ostensibly targeting Hamas, have resulted in an overwhelming civilian death toll, asserting a grim statistic of at least 48,572 fatalities in Gaza, primarily among non-combatants, since the initial outbreak of violence. Amidst this bleak backdrop, former Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov poignantly expressed the profound dread that accompanies the uncertainty facing those still held captive, calling for immediate action to bring closure to the hostages’ suffering.
