Ceasefire Collapses as Israeli Airstrikes Devastate Gaza
GAZA CITY—A fragile two-month ceasefire crumbled into chaos as Israeli airstrikes pounded the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, killing more than 400 people, according to Palestinian health authorities. The assault, the most intense since January, comes as Israel vows to escalate its military offensive in response to Hamas’s continued detention of hostages.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they were targeting "terror sites" across Gaza after negotiations to extend the truce collapsed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a stark declaration: "Israel will act against Hamas with increasing military strength," accusing the militant group of refusing multiple offers to release hostages.
Hamas, which still holds 59 of the approximately 250 hostages taken during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, countered by accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire and undermining mediation efforts. The group, which governs the besieged enclave, alleged that Israeli forces had deliberately targeted civilians. "Mediators should hold Israel fully responsible for violating and overturning the ceasefire," Hamas said in a statement.
The renewed airstrikes have plunged the region deeper into conflict, raising fears of a prolonged military operation. While Israel claims that up to 24 of the remaining hostages are believed to be alive, a group representing their families sharply criticized Netanyahu’s government, alleging that the new military escalation signaled a willingness to abandon the captives rather than secure their release through diplomacy.
The offensive marks a turning point in a conflict that had, for weeks, appeared to be moving toward a negotiated resolution. Now, with the death toll climbing and diplomatic channels in disarray, Gaza is once again at the center of a deepening crisis, its future clouded by war and uncertainty.
