Israel has initiated a series of airstrikes throughout the Gaza Strip, breaching the recently established, albeit fragile, ceasefire that had been maintained since January.
During the early hours of Tuesday, air raids resulted in over 320 fatalities, with a significant number of victims being women and children.
The sudden barrage has disrupted a period characterized by relative tranquility during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. This escalation intensifies the possibility of resuming full-scale combat in a 17-month conflict that has already claimed more than 48,000 Palestinian lives and resulted in extensive devastation in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attributed the order for the strikes to the lack of progress in negotiations regarding the extension of the ceasefire and the liberation of the remaining individuals held captive by Hamas since October 2023.
Hamas has denounced Israel’s actions as a violation of the ceasefire agreement, warning that the life of the captives still in custody is now at even greater risk.
The White House has informed that it was consulted and expressed its backing for Israel’s operations.