Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza early Tuesday, ending a fragile ceasefire after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to “act forcefully” against Hamas. The decision followed Hamas’s refusal to release Israeli hostages, according to Netanyahu’s office.
At least 254 Palestinians were killed, including children, according to unverified figures from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. Hamas, insisting on an Israeli withdrawal in exchange for hostages, rejected a U.S.-backed compromise. Israel, refusing to end the war while Hamas remains intact, declined to negotiate.
The ceasefire had lasted two months but was on shaky ground. A U.S. proposal to extend the truce by weeks in exchange for hostage releases was dismissed by Hamas, prompting warnings from U.S. officials. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Israel consulted the Trump administration before launching the strikes. “As President Trump has made clear: those who terrorize Israel and the U.S. will pay the price,” she said.
Hamas condemned Israel for breaking the truce, calling on the UN and Arab nations to intervene. Netanyahu’s office vowed to intensify military action, stating the objective remains Hamas’s destruction and the return of all remaining 59 hostages.
Hostage families fear renewed fighting endangers their loved ones, while Israeli polls show public division—many back ending the war for hostages, but Netanyahu’s coalition demands Hamas’s defeat. The new IDF chief, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has pledged an aggressive campaign, while Netanyahu moves to replace security officials advocating for a diplomatic resolution.
With a more supportive U.S. administration, Israel has blocked humanitarian aid and escalated operations, signaling a prolonged conflict ahead.
