Israel Resumes Gaza Strikes, Vows Hostage Release Effort \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Israel has resumed large-scale airstrikes in Gaza after failed hostage negotiations. Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed to continue until all captives are freed. At least 44 people have been reported dead amid the most intense attacks since January’s ceasefire.
Israel Gaza Strikes Quick Looks
- Israel’s Defense Minister vows no end until hostages are freed.
- Heavy airstrikes reported across Gaza, killing at least 44 people.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu blames Hamas for stalling negotiations.
- The strikes follow weeks of ceasefire collapse and failed diplomacy.
- Gaza hospitals overwhelmed with casualties from renewed bombings.
- Netanyahu’s office: “Military strength will increase against Hamas.”
- Humanitarian aid to Gaza has been cut to pressure Hamas.
- Syrian and Lebanese targets also struck in regional escalation.
Deep Look
Israel has launched its most intense military offensive in Gaza since January’s ceasefire, reigniting conflict and sending shockwaves across the Middle East. The strikes, ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, come in response to what Israel describes as Hamas’ continuous refusal to release the remaining hostages and rejection of all proposed diplomatic solutions.
In a forceful statement, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that “the gates of hell will open in Gaza” if hostages are not released, vowing that the military campaign will continue until every captive is freed and all war objectives are achieved. His words echoed the Israeli government’s growing frustration as months of negotiations have failed to produce results.
Early Tuesday, Israeli warplanes pounded Gaza with the heaviest bombardments seen in months, leaving at least 44 Palestinians dead according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. These airstrikes targeted Hamas positions, military compounds, and suspected militant infrastructure. However, the devastating collateral damage to civilian areas, homes, and schools has once again highlighted the humanitarian catastrophe gripping the besieged territory.
This fresh wave of violence comes just two months after a fragile ceasefire was brokered between Israel and Hamas, pausing a conflict that erupted on October 7, 2023. On that day, Hamas militants launched a cross-border assault into Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. Israel’s response was swift and overwhelming, with sustained airstrikes, ground operations, and naval blockades that have since claimed over 48,000 Palestinian lives, according to local health officials in Gaza.
During the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released around three dozen hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, progress toward a second phase — aimed at releasing the estimated 60 remaining hostages — has collapsed. Israel insists on the immediate release of half the remaining hostages before engaging in broader ceasefire talks, while Hamas demands a phased approach involving Israeli troop withdrawal and long-term political guarantees.
Israel’s intensifying military actions are also part of a broader regional strategy. In addition to Gaza, Israeli forces have conducted targeted strikes in southern Syria and southern Lebanon. In Syria’s Daraa province, airstrikes killed three people and injured 19 others, including four children. Israel claims these operations are preemptive strikes aimed at neutralizing military positions and weapons storage belonging to forces aligned with the Assad regime, which Israel believes pose a growing threat to its security.
Similarly, Israeli forces struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, killing two operatives in the town of Yohmor. Israel’s military labeled these individuals as “observation operatives,” suggesting intelligence-gathering roles within Hezbollah’s network. Subsequent strikes targeted additional Hezbollah sites, escalating tensions along Israel’s northern border. Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in November 2024, violations from both sides have been repeatedly reported, fueling concerns of a wider regional conflict.
Back in Gaza, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate at an alarming pace. According to the United Nations, around 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced since the conflict began. Many families now live in overcrowded shelters with limited access to clean water, food, and medical care. Tuesday’s renewed bombardments have overwhelmed hospitals like Al Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, where doctors are struggling to treat the wounded amidst dwindling supplies and damaged facilities.
Israel’s blockade of food and humanitarian aid to Gaza has compounded the suffering. Netanyahu’s government cut off all aid deliveries earlier this month, aiming to pressure Hamas into compliance. However, the result has been further desperation among civilians caught in the crossfire. Gaza’s streets are littered with rubble, and recovery efforts have been paralyzed by the threat of further military action.
In a statement from Hamas official Taher Nunu, the militant group condemned the Israeli attacks and called on the international community to act. “The world faces a moral test,” he said, accusing Israel of committing crimes against innocent civilians. Hamas continues to insist that negotiations follow the terms of the existing ceasefire framework, which would involve phased releases and eventual withdrawal of Israeli forces.
International efforts led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have so far failed to revive negotiations. Diplomatic sources suggest that mediators are facing one of the most challenging standoffs in recent memory, with both sides unwilling to make concessions. Israel demands immediate hostage releases as a condition for further talks, while Hamas seeks security guarantees and political recognition as part of a larger resolution.
As military operations intensify, experts warn of catastrophic humanitarian consequences and the danger of conflict spillover into Lebanon, Syria, and potentially beyond. The cycle of violence threatens to undermine months of diplomatic progress, leaving civilians in Gaza, Israeli border communities, and neighboring countries in peril.
While the ceasefire had offered a glimmer of hope for displaced Palestinians and war-weary Israelis alike, Tuesday’s dramatic escalation has shattered that fragile peace. The international community is now facing mounting pressure to intervene, but with trust between Israel and Hamas at an all-time low, the road to peace appears increasingly uncertain.
Israel Resumes Gaza
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