Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have killed at least 254 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, raising fears of a complete breakdown of the two-month ceasefire. Israel has vowed to escalate military operations to secure the release of hostages still held in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed the military to take “strong action” against Hamas in response to the group’s refusal to release hostages and rejection of ceasefire proposals. “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” his office stated.
Following the intense strikes, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for several neighborhoods in Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas accused Israel of undermining the ceasefire, leaving the fate of 59 hostages uncertain.
The renewed escalation in Gaza comes amid rising tensions across the Middle East, affecting Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq. U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran of consequences for any further attacks on global shipping by the Houthi group, as his administration intensified military operations in Yemen.
Israeli strikes hit multiple locations in Gaza, with Palestinian health officials reporting that many victims were children. The Israeli military confirmed targeting dozens of sites and warned that operations would continue as long as necessary, possibly extending beyond airstrikes and into ground combat.
The latest attacks mark a significant escalation beyond Israel’s recent drone operations targeting militants and follow weeks of unsuccessful negotiations to extend the truce established on January 19.
Israel has also intensified its campaign against Hamas and its allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen—groups linked to Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance.” Among the dead is senior Hamas political leader Mohammad Al-Jmasi, killed alongside several family members, including his grandchildren, when his home in Gaza City was struck. At least five senior Hamas officials were also killed.
The ongoing conflict has pushed Gaza’s already devastated healthcare system to the brink. Hospitals, overwhelmed after months of bombardment, are struggling to handle the influx of casualties. In Rafah, 16 members of a single family were killed in the strikes.
A spokesperson for the Gaza health ministry confirmed the death toll had reached 254. The White House stated that Israel had consulted U.S. officials before launching the attacks. “Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war,” White House spokesperson Brian Hughes said.
Eyewitnesses reported Israeli tanks shelling parts of Rafah, forcing many families—who had returned home during the ceasefire—to flee once again, heading north toward Khan Younis.
Stalemate in Ceasefire Talks
Negotiators from Israel and Hamas had been meeting in Doha, with Egypt and Qatar acting as mediators to salvage the truce. The first phase of the ceasefire saw 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals released in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel, backed by the U.S., pushed for the return of remaining hostages in exchange for an extended truce that would last through Ramadan and Passover in April. However, Hamas insisted on negotiating a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Both sides have accused each other of violating the January ceasefire agreement. Until now, full-scale fighting had been avoided, but the latest escalation threatens to reignite war.
The Israeli military has not disclosed details of its recent operations, but Palestinian authorities and eyewitnesses reported widespread destruction. Hundreds of thousands of displaced residents remain in makeshift shelters or damaged buildings.
Gaza has been devastated by 15 months of conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen launched a deadly attack on Israeli communities, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
In response, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health authorities, while reducing much of the enclave’s infrastructure including hospitals to ruins.