Intensified Strikes in Gaza Amid Ceasefire Strain
The Israeli military announced Tuesday it is “conducting extensive strikes” on Hamas targets within Gaza, exacerbating the already tenuous ceasefire between Israel and the militant group.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are targeting Hamas sites across the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated the strikes aim for “the release of all our hostages – living and dead.”
“From this point forward, Israel will act against Hamas with increasing military force,” the statement added.
Casualties and Humanitarian Crisis
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal reported that dozens of people have been killed or wounded in the attacks, with over 35 homes struck.
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“Our crews are unable to manage the attacks due to constrained resources and the perilous conditions,” Basal said. “We call on the world to halt this aggression.”
This recent military operation follows prior Israeli strikes over the weekend. The Gaza Health Ministry indicated that those strikes resulted in at least 14 fatalities within a 24-hour period, according to a statement issued Sunday.
IDF Actions and Hamas Activities
On Saturday, the IDF reported identifying two Hamas operatives “operating a drone that posed a threat to IDF troops,” and observed others gathering drone-related equipment.
Ceasefire Agreement and Negotiations
A ceasefire agreement, brokered in January, was announced by the Biden administration. Since then, both sides have accused each other of violations.
The initial phase of the agreement, which involved the release of hostages held by Hamas following the October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, concluded this month. The subsequent phase, intended to secure the release of male hostages, is designed to initiate discussions for a lasting end to the war.
Political and Military Directives
In Tuesday’s statement, Netanyahu’s office indicated that the Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz ordered the military “to act forcefully against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.”
“This, after Hamas repeatedly refused to release our hostages and rejected all offers it received from the US presidential envoy, Steve Witkoff, and from the mediators,” Netanyahu’s office said.
Ongoing Negotiations and US Stance
International negotiators continue to engage in discussions to bolster the ceasefire agreement.
Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union” program on Sunday, United States special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, dismissed a response proposal from Hamas.
“The Hamas proposal is a nonstarter,” Witkoff stated. He added that the U.S. supports a “bridge” proposal that would involve releasing five living hostages in exchange for a “substantial” number of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
“I’m not going to go into the specific details of what made it unacceptable, but it was totally unacceptable,” he stated.