Photo credit: France24
Israel launched a series of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, saying it was striking dozens of Hamas targets in its heaviest assault in the territory since a ceasefire took effect in January.
AP reports that Palestinian officials claimed at least 69 deaths were recorded.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes because of a lack of progress in talks to extend the ceasefire. Officials said the operation was open-ended and was expected to expand.
The surprise attack shattered a period of relative calm during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and raised the prospect of a full return to fighting in a 17-month war that has killed over 48,000 Palestinians and caused widespread destruction across Gaza. It also raised questions about the fate of the roughly two dozen Israeli hostages held by Hamas who are believed to still be alive.
Hamas condemned what it called Israel’s “unprovoked escalation” and said it had put the fare of the hostages in jeopardy.
There was no immediate US reaction. However, over the weekend, US envoy Steve Witkoff, warned that Hamas must release the living hostages immediately “or pay a severe price.”
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said the “gates of hell will open in Gaza” if the hostages aren’t released. “we will not stop fighting until all of our hostages are home and we have achieved all of the war goals,” he said.
The ceasefire had brought some relief to Gaza and allowed hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to resume to what remained of their homes.
Meanwhile, the territory is coping with vast destruction with no immediate plans to rebuild. A resumption of the war threatens to reverse any progress made in recent weeks toward halting Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
A renewed Israeli ground offensive could also be especially deadly now that so many Palestinian civilians have returned home. Before the ceasefire, civilians were largely concentrated in tent camps meant to provide relative safety from the fighting.
The resumption of the war could also worsen deep internal fissures inside Israel over the fate of the remaining hostages. Many of the hostages released by Hamas returned emaciated and malnourished and described harsh conditions in captivity while putting heavy pressure on the government to extend the ceasefire.
Mass demonstrations are planned later Tuesday and Wednesday following Netanyahu’s announcement this week that he wants to fire the head of Israel’s internal security agency, the Shin Bet. Critics have said the move is an attempt by Netanyahu to divert blame for his government’s failures in the October 7 attack and handling of the war
