On Tuesday, the Israeli forces launched the largest and most fatal attacks in Gaza from a ceased the fire with Hamas which started about two months ago. The burst killed hundreds of people, according to the health authorities in the enclave.
Starting from noon on Tuesday, it was not unclear if the strikes were a brief attempt to force Hamas to compromise in the interviews of ceased the fire or the beginning of a new phase in the conflict.
What happened with the latest strikes?
Just before 2:30 local time, the Israeli military announced that it was conducting “large strikes” on Hamas’ objectives. At least 400 Palestinians, including children, were killed in the strikes, according to the Ministry of Health of Gaza. The ministry figures do not distinguish between civilians and fighters.
Hamas has publicly announced the death of at least five high officials among Gaza’s leadership of the group. Two were officials of the group’s political office and three others – including Bahjat Abu Sultan, director of the feared Hamas internal security agency – held senior security roles.
When Israel launched the strikes, some people were preparing a special meal before the Daily Ramadan Fast. Others have been exchanged of sleep. After two months of relative calm, the widespread explosions left Gazas with an unmistakable message: the war had returned, at least for now.
Why did Israel resumed air attacks on Gaza?
The Israeli authorities explained the assault as an response to Hamas’ intransigance response in interviews on the extension of the ceased the fire.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel also said that Hamas has shown a “repeated refusal” to release the rest of the hostages he seized during his raid on Israel on October 7, 2023. About 1,200 people were killed and about 250 took hostage in that attack, which started the war. “From now on, Israel will act against Hamas with greater military force,” he said in a note.
That message was taken up by the Foreign Minister of Israel, Gideon Saar, who said that the interviews of ceased the fire had reached a blind end and that Israel had no “alternative than giving the order to reopen the fire”.
How did the fire negotiations are reduced?
The interviews blocked due to the disagreement on fundamental issues. Hamas, who attempted to use hostages as a lever for the whole conflict, refused to release a significant number of additional prisoners until Israel promised to end permanently to war.
Israel and Hamas had negotiated the next steps of the truce. The next phase should end the war and free more hostages. But the government of Mr. Netanyahu refused to agree to end the war unless Hamas give up the control of Gaza or dismantle his military wing.
Israel’s hand has been strengthened in the interviews in recent weeks, supporting the Trump administration, which has delivered more weapons to the country. The press secretary of the White House, Karoline Leavitt, said that Israel had consulted the White House before launching the strikes.
To increase pressure on Hamas, Israel stopped the delivery of humanitarian aid and supplies in Gaza at the beginning of this month. That decision exacerbated the difficulties faced by civilians in the shattered encycase, where the Palestinian health authorities say that more than 46,000 people were killed, the majority of their women, children or the elderly.
The agreement of ceased the fire, which came into force on January 19, was designed to take place in different phases towards a complete end of the conflict. As part of the initial phase, which lasted six weeks, Hamas released 30 Israeli and foreign hostages and delivered eight bodies. In return, Israel has released 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
How did Hamas respond to Israeli air attacks?
Hamas accused Israel of having decided to “overturn the agreement of the fire, exposing the prisoners to Gaza to an unknown destiny”, referring to the remaining hostages.
Hamas has not yet responded militarily to attacks.
How many hostages remain in Gaza?
Of the 250 people seized, more than 130 were released, of which over 100 during a ceased the initial fire in the first months of the war and another 30 during the truce that began in January. The hostages were exchanged with hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
The Israeli army also recovered the bodies of at least another 40. Less than half of the 59 who remain in Gaza are alive, according to the Israeli government.
The main defense group for the families of the hostages held in Gaza has accused the Israeli government of having effectively abandoned those who still have held you with his decision to launch large -scale air attacks.
Patrick Kingsley, Yan Zhuang, The cartilage of Sheikh Ahmad AND Aaron Boxerman Contributed relationships.