Israeli forces launched its biggest and most deadly attack on Gaza on Tuesday since the ceasefire with Hamas, which began about two months ago. Health officials there said the air barrage that crushed the enclave’s fragile ceasefire killed hundreds of people.
As of the end of Tuesday, it remained unclear whether the strike was trying to force Hamas to compromise in ceasefire talks or the beginning of a new phase in the conflict. Hamas has not ruled out the possibility of a militarization.
What happened to the latest strike?
Before 2:30am local time, Israeli forces announced they were on a “massive strike” on Hamas targets. At least 400 Palestinians, including children, were killed on strike, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. The province’s figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Hamas has publicly announced the deaths of at least five senior officials among the group’s Gaza leadership. The two were officials of the group’s Politburo, and three others, including Bajat Abu Sultan, director of Hamas’ feared internal security department, took on the role of senior security guards.
When Israel began its strike, some people were preparing special meals before the daily Ramadan. Others shook from their sleep. After two months of relatively mildness, the widespread explosion left Gazan an unmistakable message. For now, at least, the war has returned.
Why did Israel resume airstrikes?
Israeli authorities described the assault as a response to Hamas’ incompromise in talks to extend the ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office also said it had demonstrated a “repeated refusal” to release the remaining hostages seized during the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
“From now on, Israel will increase its military strength and act against Hamas,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
That message was echoed by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saa. Gideon Saa said the ceasefire talks reached a dead end and Israel had “no alternative except to give orders to resume the fire.”
Speaking to leaders of the American and Israeli Public Affairs Committee, a powerful Israeli lobbying group in Jerusalem, Saa said:
Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadab Shoshani said in a statement Tuesday that Israel also attacked Gaza to prevent planned attacks on Israelis. “After receiving indications that Hamas was actively planning and preparing to carry out further terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians, the military said it had “launched a series of preemptive attacks on Hamastello targets in Gaza.”
How did the ceasefire meeting collapse?
The consultations were stagnant due to differences in opinion over the underlying issues. Hamas, who attempted to use hostages as leverage throughout the conflict, refused to release a considerable number of additional prisoners of war until Israel promised to end the war forever.
Israel and Hamas were negotiating the next step in the armistice. The next stage is to end the war and release more hostages. However, Netanyahu’s government refused to agree to end the war unless Hamas gave up control of Gaza or dismantled its military wing.
The hands in Israeli talks have been strengthened in recent weeks by supporting the Trump administration, which has delivered more weapons to the country. White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said Israel consulted the White House before it began its strike.
To increase pressure on Hamas, Israel stopped delivering aid and humanitarian supplies to Gaza earlier this month, cutting off electricity that flowed into the enclave’s desalination plant last week. These decisions exacerbated the difficulties faced by civilians in the crushed enclaves. There, Palestinian health authorities say more than 48,000 people have been killed, most of whom have been killed, with women, children or elderly people.
The ceasefire agreement, which came into effect on January 19, was designed to be deployed in several stages towards the comprehensive purpose of the conflict. In the early stages that lasted six weeks, Hamas released 30 Israeli and foreign hostages and handed over eight bodies. In exchange, Israel released more than 1,500 Palestinian prisoners.
How did Hamas respond to the attack?
Hamas accused Israel of “overturning the ceasefire agreement and exposing Gaza prisoners to unknown fate,” referring to the remaining hostages.
Hamas has not reacted to the attack militarily. Rocket fires by Palestinian extremists attempting to ambush Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday were notable.
Suhail al-Hindi, a Hamas official who is not in Gaza, responded by saying that he hopes the group will restore the ceasefire but reserves the right to respond. “The way to respond is left with people on the ground,” he said in a phone interview. “They know and understand how to deal with their profession.”
Al Hindi said the group was disappointed that the US was on its side with Israel’s decision to break the two-month truce. Hamas hoped the Trump administration would curb Israel’s strike in Gaza, particularly after direct talks between American officials and Hamas leaders earlier this month.
Hamas denied plans to attack Israeli forces, saying Israel claims it is acting preemptively.
How many hostages are there still in Gaza?
Of the 250 people seized, more than 130 have been released. This includes more than 100 people during the first ceasefire in the early months of the war and more than 30 during the truce that began in January. Hostages were exchanged for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Israeli forces also recovered at least 40 bodies. Less than half of the remaining 59 people in Gaza are alive, according to the Israeli government.
A major advocacy group for hostage families held in Gaza has accused the Israeli government of effectively abandoning people still held there in its decision to launch a massive airstrike.
The report was contributed by Patrick Kingsley, Adam Rasgon, Yang Zuan, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad and Aaron Boxerman.
