Israel has launched a series of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, killing at least 404 Palestinians, including women and children, according to hospital officials.
The strikes, which shattered a fragile ceasefire that had been in place since January, now threaten to reignite the 17-month-old war between Israel and Hamas.
According to Israeli officials, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military operation after Hamas refused to amend the terms of the ceasefire agreement. The campaign has been declared open-ended, with further escalation anticipated. The White House confirmed it had been consulted and expressed its support for Israel’s actions.
The Israeli military issued evacuation orders for residents of eastern Gaza, including Beit Hanoun and other southern communities, instructing them to move toward central Gaza.
This directive indicates that a renewed ground offensive could be imminent. “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” Netanyahu’s office stated.
The attack, occurring during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, has raised fears that the war, which has already resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties and widespread destruction, will intensify further. Additionally, concerns have mounted regarding the fate of approximately two dozen Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.
A senior Hamas official described Netanyahu’s decision as a “death sentence” for the remaining captives. Izzat al-Risheq accused the Israeli leader of using the strikes to bolster his embattled far-right coalition, calling on mediators to “reveal facts” about who was responsible for breaking the truce. Hamas reported that at least four of its senior officials were among those killed in the latest strikes.
While there were no immediate reports of retaliation from Hamas in the hours following the bombardment, this silence suggested that the militant group may still be seeking to restore the ceasefire.
Netanyahu Faces Political Pressure as Protests Mount
The escalation comes as Netanyahu faces increasing domestic scrutiny, with mass protests planned against his handling of the hostage crisis and his recent dismissal of Israel’s internal security chief. His latest scheduled testimony in a long-running corruption case was also postponed following the attacks.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the main group representing relatives of the captives, condemned the Israeli government’s actions.
“We are shocked, angry, and terrified by the deliberate dismantling of the process to return our loved ones from the terrible captivity of Hamas.”
Hostages and Missing Families Forum
Medical facilities across Gaza struggled to cope with the influx of wounded civilians. According to a European Hospital officials, a strike on a home in the southern city of Rafah claimed the lives of 17 members of one family, including 12 women and children.
Eyewitnesses in Khan Younis reported massive explosions and rising plumes of smoke. Ambulances rushed victims to Nasser Hospital, where floors were lined with injured patients. Some cried out in pain, while a young girl wept as medics bandaged her bloody arm.
Many Palestinians had anticipated a return to conflict when talks about the second phase of the ceasefire failed to commence as scheduled in early February.
Israel opted for an alternative proposal, enforcing a total blockade on Gaza’s 2 million residents — cutting off essential supplies like food, fuel, and humanitarian aid — to pressure Hamas into compliance. “Nobody wants to fight,” said Palestinian resident Nidal Alzaanin from Gaza City. “Everyone is still suffering from the previous months.”
Gaza’s Health Ministry confirmed that at least 404 people had been killed in the strikes, with more than 560 wounded. The ministry revised its earlier casualty count, which had reported 413 deaths and 660 injuries. Rescuers continued searching through the rubble for survivors as airstrikes persisted, making Tuesday one of the deadliest days in the conflict so far.
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