Jerusalem: Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have resulted in at least 200 deaths, Palestinian health authorities reported, following a series of attacks early Tuesday that shattered a weeks-long standoff over extending the ceasefire that had halted fighting in January.
Strikes targeted multiple locations, including northern Gaza, Gaza City, and the central and southern areas of Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, and Rafah. According to Palestinian health officials, many of the victims were children.
The Israeli military confirmed that it struck dozens of targets and stated that operations would persist as long as necessary, hinting that the offensive could escalate beyond airstrikes to include ground troops. The strikes marked a significant intensification compared to the sporadic drone attacks that Israel previously launched against individuals or small militant groups.
For weeks, negotiations to extend the truce—initially agreed upon on January 19—had failed. The latest escalation came amid these stalled diplomatic efforts. In Gaza’s hospitals, already strained by 15 months of relentless bombardment, bodies wrapped in blood-stained white plastic sheets lay stacked as medical workers struggled to manage the influx of casualties.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported handling 86 dead and 134 wounded, while additional victims were brought to overwhelmed hospitals by private vehicles. Officials from Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, and Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City, all of which had sustained heavy damage in the war, confirmed receiving about 85 deceased individuals. Separately, authorities reported that 16 members of a single family in Rafah had been killed.
A spokesperson for Gaza’s health ministry stated that the total death toll had risen to at least 200.
Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement, putting the fate of 59 hostages still held in Gaza into uncertainty. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office blamed Hamas for “repeated refusal to release our hostages” and rejecting proposals put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.
“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” Netanyahu’s office declared in a statement.
U.S. Consultation and Regional Reactions
A White House spokesperson confirmed that Israel had consulted with the U.S. administration before conducting the strikes. According to the Israeli military, the attacks targeted mid-level Hamas commanders, leadership figures, and militant infrastructure.
“Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war,” White House spokesperson Brian Hughes stated.
Eyewitnesses in Gaza reported that Israeli tanks shelled areas in Rafah, compelling families who had recently returned home following the ceasefire to flee northward to Khan Younis in search of safety.
Standoff Over Hostage Negotiations
Negotiators from Israel and Hamas had been meeting in Doha, with mediators from Egypt and Qatar attempting to bridge the gap between both sides. The initial phase of the ceasefire had resulted in the release of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Backed by the United States, Israel had been pressing for the release of the remaining 59 hostages in exchange for a prolonged ceasefire that would extend past the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Passover holiday in April. However, Hamas insisted on moving toward a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, aligning with the terms of the original truce agreement.
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“We demand that the mediators hold Netanyahu and the Zionist occupation fully responsible for violating and overturning the agreement,” Hamas stated.
Both sides have accused each other of failing to uphold the ceasefire terms. While tensions had persisted throughout its duration, a full return to hostilities had been averted—until now.
Ongoing Devastation
Israel had previously blocked aid deliveries into Gaza and repeatedly threatened to resume military operations if Hamas did not release the remaining hostages.
While the Israeli army did not provide specific details about Tuesday’s strikes, Palestinian health authorities and eyewitnesses reported significant damage across Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom are living in makeshift shelters or partially destroyed buildings, were further displaced.
A building in Gaza City was struck, while at least three houses were hit in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. In addition, medics and witnesses confirmed strikes in the southern cities of Khan Younis and Rafah.
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Among those killed was senior Hamas official Mohammad Al-Jmasi, a member of the group’s political office. Sources within Hamas and relatives confirmed that Al-Jmasi and members of his family, including his grandchildren, were in his Gaza City residence when it was struck by an Israeli airstrike. At least five senior Hamas officials were reportedly killed, along with several members of their families.
Gaza remains in ruins after 15 months of relentless conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led gunmen launched an attack on Israeli communities surrounding the Gaza Strip, killing approximately 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures, and taking 251 hostages into Gaza.
Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has since killed more than 48,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, while also devastating Gaza’s housing, infrastructure, and medical facilities.
