Netanyahu Orders Deadliest Gaza Strikes Since War Began \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Israel launched massive airstrikes on Gaza, killing over 400 Palestinians, ending a fragile ceasefire. The strikes followed Hamas’ refusal to alter ceasefire terms, with Netanyahu promising ongoing military action. Aid groups warn of worsening humanitarian conditions as fighting escalates.
Israel Airstrikes in Gaza Kill Over 400 — Quick Looks
- Israel launched the deadliest attack in its 17-month war with Hamas.
- Over 400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, were killed.
- Netanyahu declared the bombardment “only the beginning” of renewed warfare.
- Gaza hospitals are overwhelmed, and humanitarian supplies are running out.
- Hamas confirmed six senior leaders were killed in Israeli strikes.
- Yemen’s Houthi rebels responded with rockets, intercepted by Israel’s defense.
- The U.S. voiced support for Israel, blaming Hamas for ceasefire breakdown.
- Domestic political pressures on Netanyahu intensified amid hostage crisis protests.
- Hostage families accuse Israel of abandoning efforts for peaceful resolutions.
- International mediators struggle to salvage ceasefire agreements.
Deep Look
In a devastating escalation of conflict, Israel launched a sweeping series of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing over 400 Palestinians in what has become the deadliest single day in its 17-month war with Hamas. Local health officials confirmed that among the dead were entire families, with the majority of casualties being women and children. The strikes shattered the fragile ceasefire that had been in place since January, intensifying fears of a prolonged and even bloodier phase of the conflict.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the nation on live television, confirmed that he personally ordered the bombardment after Hamas refused Israeli demands to alter the terms of the ceasefire agreement. Declaring that this offensive was “only the beginning,” Netanyahu vowed to continue military operations until Israel’s dual war aims were achieved: the total dismantling of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities and the safe return of all hostages still held by the group. He warned that all future ceasefire negotiations would now occur “under fire,” signaling Israel’s commitment to continued aggression until its objectives are met.
The Israeli military followed up the bombardment with evacuation orders for residents in eastern Gaza, directing them toward the territory’s center — a move widely interpreted as preparation for renewed ground operations. Aid groups have raised urgent alarms, warning that Gaza’s two million residents face catastrophic conditions after Israel’s blockade cut off food, medicine, fuel, and essential supplies two weeks ago.
In a statement, Netanyahu’s office reiterated that Israel would “act against Hamas with increasing military strength.” The timing of the attacks during Ramadan — a holy month of fasting and prayer for Muslims — underscores the severity of Israel’s renewed military campaign, raising fears of widespread regional destabilization.
According to Hamas, at least six senior officials were killed in the airstrikes, including the head of Hamas’ civilian government, top justice ministry personnel, and key security chiefs. Israel confirmed these targets were among those eliminated, though it emphasized that strikes were aimed at Hamas’ military and infrastructure elements. Yet, the collateral damage was enormous. In the southern city of Rafah, one Israeli missile strike killed 17 members of a single family, including five children, both parents, and another father with his three young children. Another airstrike in Gaza City killed 27 members of another family — half of them women and children, including a 1-year-old infant.
Scenes from Gaza hospitals painted a harrowing picture. At Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital, medical workers struggled to care for waves of injured civilians. Volunteer doctor Tanya Haj-Hassan recounted treating a six-year-old girl suffering from internal bleeding and brain injury from shrapnel. The girl was brought in without identification, and there was no confirmation of whether her family had survived. Hospital corridors were filled with patients lying on floors, and overwhelmed pediatric wards treated countless wounded children.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported at least 404 deaths and over 560 injuries. Of those killed, 263 were women or children under the age of 18. Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the ministry’s records department, described the attack as the deadliest single day Gaza has seen since the beginning of this conflict.
Internationally, the response has been mixed. The White House announced it had been consulted prior to the strikes and expressed full support for Israel’s right to defend itself. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes placed blame on Hamas for the collapse of the ceasefire, arguing that Hamas “could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war.” However, critics pointed out that the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement did not mandate hostage releases beyond its first phase.
The regional situation escalated further as Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels launched rockets toward Israel — the first such attack since the ceasefire began. Israel’s military reported intercepting the missiles before they reached Israeli territory. Meanwhile, the U.S. continued its military campaign against Iran-allied forces in Yemen, and Israel targeted Iranian-backed militants in Lebanon and Syria, reflecting how the Gaza war is fueling a broader regional conflict.
Domestically, Netanyahu faces mounting political challenges. His decision to resume full-scale war appears to be, in part, an attempt to consolidate support among far-right factions in his fragile governing coalition. The far-right party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, which had withdrawn from the government in protest of the ceasefire, rejoined after Tuesday’s strikes. At the same time, mass protests erupted across Israel, with tens of thousands demanding a ceasefire and the return of all remaining hostages.
Families of those hostages expressed outrage and fear over the government’s decision to abandon negotiations. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a strongly worded statement, accusing the government of “deliberately dismantling the process to return our loved ones from Hamas captivity.”
The collapse of the ceasefire stems from disputes over its second phase. Under the agreement brokered in January, Hamas released 25 hostages and the bodies of eight others in exchange for the release of 1,700 Palestinian prisoners. The second phase was supposed to secure the release of the remaining 24 living hostages, end the conflict, and initiate a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Instead, Israel demanded Hamas release half of the remaining hostages upfront in exchange for a ceasefire extension and only vague promises of future negotiations — demands that Hamas refused, insisting on adherence to the original terms.
The broader humanitarian impact is staggering. The war, which began after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, has now claimed the lives of more than 48,500 Palestinians. Gaza’s infrastructure lies in ruins, and 90% of its population is displaced. While Israel insists it will not end the war until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are freed, critics and experts argue that achieving both goals may be impossible.
As Israel’s military campaign intensifies, international mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States continue working to find a diplomatic solution. Yet, with each passing day, the situation on the ground becomes more desperate, and the possibility of a lasting resolution appears increasingly remote.
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