Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday killed more than 400 people in Gaza, Palestinian health authorities reported, marking one of the deadliest days since the conflict began. The strikes shattered nearly two months of relative calm following a ceasefire, which Israel now says is over, warning that its military campaign is “just the beginning.”
Both Israel and Hamas accused each other of violating the truce, which had provided temporary relief to Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. Hamas, which still holds 59 of the 250 hostages taken during its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, blamed Israel for undermining mediation efforts for a permanent ceasefire. However, the group did not explicitly threaten retaliation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Hamas had rejected proposals to extend the ceasefire, justifying the renewed military action. “From now on, negotiations will only take place under fire,” he declared, adding that Gaza residents should evacuate to safer areas.
Widespread Destruction and Evacuation Orders
The strikes targeted residential areas across Gaza, with eyewitnesses reporting missiles hitting Gaza City and tank shelling near the border. Families fled from Beit Hanoun in the north and Khan Younis in the south following Israeli evacuation orders.
International mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and the European Union, condemned the renewed Israeli assault. The UN’s emergency relief coordinator, Tom Fletcher, warned that any progress achieved during the ceasefire had been erased.
Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate as Israel has blocked aid deliveries for more than two weeks, exacerbating shortages of food and medicine.
High Civilian Toll and Hamas Leadership Losses
Hospitals in Gaza struggled to cope with the influx of casualties, with medical staff overwhelmed by the number of dead and injured. Health officials reported that many victims were children, with over 562 people wounded.
Among those killed in the Israeli airstrikes were key Hamas officials, including Essam Addalees, the head of the Hamas government, and Ahmed Al-Hetta, the deputy justice minister, according to Hamas sources.
Truce Negotiations in Jeopardy
Talks mediated by Qatar had been ongoing in Doha, with hopes of securing the release of more hostages in exchange for a longer ceasefire. However, Hamas accused Israel of reneging on the agreement by refusing to begin discussions on the next phase and suspending humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The conflict reignited after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials. Since then, Israel’s military campaign has claimed over 48,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
