Israel airstrikes on Gaza kill 235 after talks stall.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he ordered the latest airstrikes on Gaza due to stalled negotiations over extending the ceasefire. The strikes, which have resulted in at least 235 casualties, come after truce talks failed to yield progress. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel could not allow delays to continue while threats persisted. The escalation follows intense diplomatic efforts to broker a longer pause in hostilities, but disagreements between the parties have hindered a resolution. Palestinian officials have condemned the attacks, calling for international intervention. As violence escalates once again, concerns grow over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with many fearing further casualties and destruction in the coming days.
Deir Al-Balah: Israel launched a wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, marking the heaviest assault on the territory since a ceasefire took effect in January. Israeli officials stated that the strikes targeted dozens of Hamas positions, responding to stalled negotiations over extending the ceasefire.
Hospitals in Gaza reported at least 235 people killed, including women and children, as a result of the bombardment. The scale of the attack has heightened concerns over the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the decision, stating that he ordered the strikes due to the lack of progress in truce talks. Officials indicated that the military operation was open-ended and expected to expand further.
The White House confirmed it had been consulted ahead of the strikes and voiced support for Israel’s actions, emphasizing Israel’s right to defend itself.
The airstrikes shattered a brief period of relative calm during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and raised fears of a full return to fighting in a war that has raged for 17 months. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and caused extensive destruction across Gaza.
The renewed violence has also brought uncertainty over the fate of roughly two dozen Israeli hostages believed to be alive and still held by Hamas.
Hamas accused Netanyahu of derailing the ceasefire agreement and placing the hostages in greater danger.
The strikes come at a politically turbulent time for Netanyahu, who is facing mounting domestic pressure. Protests are planned over his handling of the hostage crisis and his recent controversial decision to dismiss the head of Israel’s internal security agency.
Wounded civilians flooded into Gaza’s overstretched hospitals following the airstrikes. In the southern city of Khan Younis, Associated Press reporters witnessed explosions and rising plumes of smoke as rescue workers scrambled to respond to the devastation.
Meanwhile, Hamas reiterated its commitment to the existing ceasefire deal, which initially called for negotiations on a second phase. This next step was expected to include further hostage releases and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, the latest escalation has thrown these plans into uncertainty, further complicating the path to a lasting resolution.
As both sides brace for potential further violence, international mediators are working frantically to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. With tensions running high, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether diplomacy can still hold, or if the region is headed for another prolonged period of conflict.