The fragile ceasefire in Gaza is under serious risk of being shattered as waves of Israeli airstrikes have reportedly killed about 330 people in the Palestinian city.
The number is expected to rise as many remain under the rubble of destroyed buildings in Gaza, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
Israel, which has enforced a total blockade of Gaza, issued new forced displacement orders for several areas, which prompted Palestinian militant group Hamas calling it a “treacherous” attack on besieged and defenceless civilians in order to “overturn the Gaza ceasefire deal.”
Palestinian Islamic Jihad also accused Israel of “deliberately sabotaging” the ceasefire, which had been in place since January 19.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the strikes because of a lack of progress in talks to extend the ceasefire.
The Prime Minister described the offensive as “extensive strikes” on Hamas targets, vowing to use “increasing military strength” against the militant group, while Defense Minister Israel Katz said “Tonight we returned to fighting in Gaza.”
Hamas accused Israel of overturning the nearly two-month-long ceasefire agreement and “putting the captives in Gaza at risk of an unknown fate.” But Israel accused Hamas of “repeatedly” refusing to release hostages and rejecting mediation offers.
Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners have been released from Israeli jails in exchange for some Israeli hostages released by Hamas in the ceasefire that was brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. About 59 of Israeli hostages, half of whom are presumed to be dead, are still in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
Israel reportedly consulted the United States’ President Donald Trump administration before the renewed Gaza strikes as both countries vowed to eliminate Hamas, the Houthi rebels in Yemen and other terror groups.
“Hamas, the Houthis, all those who seek to terrorise not just Israel but also the United States of America, will see a price to pay. All hell will break loose,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News.
According to figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry at least 48,577 Palestinians have been confirmed dead and 112,041 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza.
Gaza’s Government Media Office updated its death toll to more than 61,700, adding that thousands of Palestinians missing under the rubble are presumed dead.
The war in Gaza was triggered by the attack perpetrated by Hamas in Southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed at least 1,139 Israeli citizens and the abduction of over 200 others taken into Gaza as captives.
