Israeli airstrikes targeted the Gaza Strip early on Tuesday, killing at least 254 Palestinians, including women and children, according to hospital reports.
The surprise attack threatened to break the ceasefire that had been in place since January and could fully reignite the 17-month-long conflict, UNB reports.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were a response to stalled negotiations to extend the ceasefire. Officials confirmed that the operation would be open-ended and was expected to expand. The White House expressed support for Israel's actions, noting it had been consulted.
“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” Netanyahu’s office stated.
The attack ended a period of relative calm during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and raised concerns over the fate of approximately two dozen Israeli hostages believed to still be alive. A senior Hamas official described Netanyahu’s decision as a "death sentence" for the hostages, accusing him of launching the strikes to maintain his far-right coalition and calling for mediators to reveal who violated the truce.
The strikes came as Netanyahu faced rising domestic pressure due to mass protests regarding his handling of the hostage crisis and his firing of Israel's internal security chief. His testimony in an ongoing corruption trial was also postponed.
Wounded individuals flooded Gaza hospitals following the airstrikes. A strike in Rafah killed 17 members of a single family, including at least 12 women and children. In Khan Younis, ambulances brought the wounded to Nasser Hospital, where many were left on the floor, some crying in pain.
Many Palestinians had expected a return to conflict after talks for the second phase of the ceasefire failed to begin in February. Israel had instead cut off all food, fuel, and other aid to Gaza’s 2 million residents in an attempt to pressure Hamas.
At least 235 people were killed in the airstrikes by Tuesday, according to seven hospitals, with more casualties expected as rescuers continued to search for the dead and wounded.
The White House blamed Hamas for the resumption of fighting, stating that the militant group could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but chose instead to reject it. An Israeli official revealed that Israel had targeted Hamas’ military leadership and infrastructure and planned to expand the operation beyond airstrikes.
Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, warned that “the gates of hell will open in Gaza” if the hostages are not released, adding, “We will not stop fighting until all of our hostages are home and we have achieved all of the war goals.”
Negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire stalled after the first phase ended. The first phase saw Hamas release 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, since the ceasefire ended, the sides failed to agree on releasing the remaining hostages and ending the conflict.
Hamas demanded a full withdrawal of Israeli forces in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages, but Israel insisted it would not end the war until Hamas' governing and military capabilities were destroyed, and all hostages were freed.
Netanyahu’s office stated that Hamas had repeatedly refused to release the hostages and rejected mediation efforts. Hamas official Taher Nunu criticized the Israeli strikes and urged the international community to take a stand against the continued violence.
The war began in October 2023 when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Israel's response has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, many of whom were women and children, and displaced 90% of Gaza's population.
While the ceasefire had provided some relief, the resumption of fighting could further complicate efforts to negotiate the release of the remaining hostages.
In Israel, there has been increasing criticism of Netanyahu's handling of the hostage situation, with mass protests planned in response to his announcement that he intended to fire the head of the Shin Bet internal security agency. Many Israelis see this move as an attempt to deflect blame for the government's failures during the October 7 attack and throughout the war.
Since the ceasefire, Israeli forces have killed dozens of Palestinians who allegedly approached troops or entered unauthorized areas. Despite this, the ceasefire had held without widespread violence, with Egypt, Qatar, and the United States trying to mediate the next steps. Israel has insisted on the release of half of the remaining hostages in exchange for a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Hamas, however, seeks to follow the terms of the first ceasefire, which would involve negotiations for the second phase, including the release of all hostages and Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza.
