Prime Minister Netanyahu orders renewed offensive; over 400 killed in airstrikes as ceasefire talks collapse amid mounting domestic and international pressure.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Israel launched a series of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing at least 413 people, including women and children, according to hospital officials. The renewed offensive followed the collapse of a ceasefire agreement that had held since January, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordering an open-ended operation after Hamas refused to alter terms of the truce. The White House confirmed it had been consulted and expressed support for Israel’s decision.
A senior Hamas official, Izzat al-Risheq, condemned the renewed attacks, calling them a “death sentence” for the remaining hostages held by the terror group and accused Netanyahu of acting to preserve his political coalition. Hamas reported at least four senior officials killed in the strikes and urged mediators to disclose who broke the ceasefire.
National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes stated that Hamas was to blame for the escalation, noting, “They could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war.” Netanyahu’s office echoed that stance, saying Hamas “repeatedly refused to release our hostages and rejected all offers” made by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and other mediators.
The Israeli military ordered evacuations from eastern Gaza, including Beit Hanoun and parts of the south, signaling an impending ground operation. Netanyahu’s office declared, “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength.” The renewed conflict, occurring during Ramadan, raises fresh concerns over the fate of approximately two dozen Israeli hostages believed to be alive.
Hamas did not retaliate immediately, indicating possible interest in restoring the truce. However, mounting casualties and destroyed infrastructure have intensified the humanitarian crisis. One strike in Rafah killed 17 members of a single family, including 12 women and children, according to the European Hospital. In Khan Younis, the wounded crowded hospitals amid ongoing strikes.
Palestinians in Gaza had anticipated a return to conflict after ceasefire negotiations stalled in early February. Israel had shifted to a new proposal and cut off essential supplies to pressure Hamas. “Everyone is still suffering from the previous months,” Gaza resident Nidal Alzaanin told the Associated Press.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported 413 dead and hundreds wounded, calling it one of the war’s deadliest days. Israeli officials, speaking anonymously, said the military was targeting Hamas leaders and infrastructure and preparing to expand operations beyond airstrikes.
Tensions are also escalating inside Israel, where Netanyahu faces protests over his handling of the war and the hostage crisis. His decision to fire the head of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, has drawn sharp criticism. The main group representing hostage families accused the government of abandoning the ceasefire and the captives, stating, “We are shocked, angry and terrified by the deliberate dismantling of the process to return our loved ones.”
The conflict, which erupted on October 7, 2023, after Hamas-led terrorists killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, has since killed over 48,000 Palestinians and displaced 90% of Gaza’s population, according to local health officials. Israel says the war will not end until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are freed — goals that may conflict with Hamas’s demand for a full Israeli withdrawal in exchange for the remaining captives.
Efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to mediate the second phase of the ceasefire have so far failed, as Netanyahu’s government now prioritizes a renewed military campaign that his far-right allies support. Mass demonstrations are planned in Israel amid mounting criticism of Netanyahu’s leadership and war strategy.
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