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On Tuesday, at least 220 people were killed in Gaza as Israel launched an unprecedented wave of airstrikes targeting Hamas positions. The strikes, which have been described as the largest since the ceasefire began on January 19, came after weeks of stalled truce talks between Israel and Hamas. The situation in Gaza worsened as airstrikes hit various locations, leading to mass casualties and widespread destruction.
The Gaza Civil Defense agency confirmed that the majority of those killed were civilians, including “mostly children, women, and the elderly.” In addition to the fatalities, around 150 people were injured, further straining Gaza’s already overwhelmed medical infrastructure. The explosions could be heard throughout the Gaza Strip, including in northern Gaza, Gaza City, and in the central and southern areas like Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, and Rafah.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the airstrikes were aimed at “terror targets” belonging to Hamas, which Israel labels as a terrorist organization. The IDF emphasized that the strikes were in line with strategic goals laid out by Israel’s political leadership. In the aftermath, Israel also ordered the closure of schools in areas adjacent to Gaza, citing safety concerns.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office later explained that the decision to resume military strikes came after Hamas had repeatedly refused to release Israeli hostages and rejected several proposals from U.S. and international mediators. In a statement, Netanyahu’s office asserted that Israel’s operations were aimed at achieving the war objectives determined by the political echelon, which included securing the release of all hostages, both living and deceased.
Israel’s military strategy now involves acting with “increased military strength” against Hamas, according to the IDF. However, Hamas has strongly condemned Israel’s actions, accusing Netanyahu of “violating and overturning the ceasefire agreement.” Hamas officials claimed that Netanyahu’s decision to resume the war was a deliberate attempt to sacrifice the hostages in exchange for political gains, calling it an effort to distract from internal issues within Israel.
The truce talks, which had been mediated by various parties, had come to a standstill after Israel sought to extend the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. Initially, the ceasefire had been part of a three-phase deal. While Israel wanted to extend the first phase, which focused on hostage exchanges, Hamas insisted that it would only resume releasing hostages if Israel agreed to move to the second phase, which was scheduled to begin on March 2. The second phase of the agreement was supposed to include more hostages’ releases, but Israel insisted on stricter conditions, including the “total demilitarization” of Gaza and the removal of Hamas, which has ruled the region since 2007.
As part of the negotiations, Hamas had offered to release American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander and four bodies of hostages if Israel agreed to immediately begin talks on implementing the second phase. Israel, however, accused Hamas of engaging in “psychological warfare” and manipulating the families of the hostages.
The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise cross-border raid into southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, most of them civilians. During this attack, Hamas captured 251 hostages. In retaliation, Israel’s military launched widespread airstrikes, and since then, the conflict has escalated, with significant loss of life on both sides. Reports suggest that Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes have killed over 48,000 Palestinians and injured more than 112,000 others, with much of the infrastructure in Gaza destroyed.
The most recent escalation follows a series of ceasefires brokered during the war. In November 2023, a temporary truce allowed for the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, this ceasefire was short-lived, and after a brief period of calm, the violence erupted once again. Israel’s airstrikes on Tuesday marked the first major military action since the January ceasefire and reflect the growing frustration of both sides in the ongoing conflict.
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The civilian toll in Gaza continues to rise, and humanitarian organizations are warning of a severe crisis. The airstrikes, compounded by the destruction of essential services and infrastructure, have led to a humanitarian disaster in the region. The continued fighting, with no clear path to a resolution, leaves both sides entrenched in their positions, and the prospects for peace appear uncertain. The international community remains divided on how to address the escalating violence, with calls for both sides to return to negotiations and end the bloodshed.
As the war continues to devastate Gaza, the global community watches closely, hoping for an end to the violence and a lasting solution to the conflict.
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