Updated Story: Israel’s Air Assault on Hamas Kills 200 \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Israel launched its most intense airstrikes on Gaza since January’s ceasefire, targeting Hamas positions. Gaza’s Health Ministry confirmed at least 200 fatalities. The attacks followed stalled ceasefire talks, prompting warnings from Hamas about hostage safety.
Israel Gaza Strikes Quick Looks
- Israel launched heavy airstrikes across Gaza early Tuesday morning.
- At least 200 people killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
- Strikes are the largest since the January ceasefire began.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the attack due to stalled negotiations.
- It remains unclear if this signals a full resumption of war.
- Hamas warned that the airstrikes jeopardize ongoing hostage situations.
- The White House confirmed it was consulted before the attacks.
- Press secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel’s actions.
- Leavitt’s comments also referenced Iran and the Houthis as threats.
- Leavitt and two officials are facing an AP lawsuit over press freedom.
Deep Look
In the early hours of Tuesday, Israel launched its most forceful wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip since the fragile ceasefire agreement that began in January. According to Israeli military officials, these strikes were aimed at Hamas military infrastructure, weapons depots, and command centers. The escalation comes after weeks of faltering negotiations to extend the ceasefire and repeated accusations from Israel that Hamas was rearming and preparing for further hostilities.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported at least 200 people killed in the attacks, with numbers expected to rise as rescue operations continue amid widespread destruction. Khalil Degran, a spokesperson from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza, confirmed the grim toll. Hospitals across the territory have been overwhelmed, with medical teams working around the clock to tend to injuries ranging from severe burns to shrapnel wounds. Local officials have described the airstrikes as devastating, with entire residential blocks flattened in Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Rafah.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the strikes as a necessary step, citing Israel’s frustration over what it described as Hamas’s lack of engagement in ceasefire extension talks. Netanyahu stated that Israel could not sit idly by while Hamas allegedly violated the ceasefire terms and continued to endanger Israeli citizens. “We have waited for dialogue, for commitment, and for accountability. Our patience has limits,” Netanyahu said during an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning.
Despite Israel’s claims, the immediate future remains unclear. Analysts are divided on whether this attack represents a calculated pressure tactic to force Hamas back into negotiations or if it signals the official resumption of a war that has already stretched over 17 months. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have refrained from confirming whether ground operations will follow, but military vehicles and troops have reportedly been deployed to key border areas.
In response, Hamas quickly condemned the Israeli action, calling it a severe breach of the January ceasefire agreement. The group warned that the strikes jeopardize the lives of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza. “Israel’s aggression will not go unanswered. The fate of the hostages is now more uncertain than ever,” a senior Hamas official declared in a statement broadcast by Al-Aqsa TV.
International reactions have been swift. The White House confirmed it was consulted before Israel launched the attacks. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the situation during an appearance on Fox News Monday evening, saying: “The Trump administration and the White House were consulted by the Israelis on their attacks in Gaza tonight.” Leavitt echoed the administration’s hardline stance, adding, “As President Trump has made clear, Hamas, the Houthis, Iran — all those who seek to terrorize not just Israel, but also the United States of America — will see a price to pay: All hell will break loose.”
The involvement of the White House has added another layer of complexity to the unfolding crisis. Notably, Leavitt, along with two other senior administration officials, is currently facing a lawsuit filed by The Associated Press. The lawsuit accuses these officials of retaliating against the news agency for editorial decisions they disagree with, citing violations of First and Fifth Amendment rights. The White House, however, contends that the AP has refused to comply with an executive order mandating the use of “Gulf of America” instead of the “Gulf of Mexico” in official reports and press releases.
The lawsuit controversy underscores the already tense relationship between the press and the current administration, adding domestic political drama to an already volatile international crisis.
Humanitarian agencies have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The United Nations issued a statement urging restraint, highlighting that civilians are bearing the brunt of the renewed violence. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated, “We are deeply alarmed by the escalation in Gaza. We call on all parties to protect civilian lives and return to dialogue.”
As Israel’s jets continue to roar over Gaza’s skies and rockets occasionally fired back from Gaza reach Israeli territory, fears of a broader regional conflict are mounting. Regional powers like Egypt and Qatar, both instrumental in previous ceasefire negotiations, have already reached out to both sides, attempting to mediate and prevent further bloodshed.
At the moment, the world watches with bated breath. Will this be a short-lived escalation intended to force diplomatic breakthroughs? Or are both Israel and Hamas now locked in yet another prolonged and deadly chapter of this decades-long conflict? Only the next few days will tell, but the stakes — for both regional stability and international diplomacy — have rarely been higher.
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