Israel has “resumed combat in full force” against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night. In a defiant video statement, he warned that “negotiations will continue only under fire” and that “this is just the beginning”.
Israel has attacked Hamas targets in Gaza, while the Gaza-based Islamist group says Israel is attempting to force it into a surrender.
More than 400 people have been killed in the attacks, and hundreds more injured, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The fragile truce that had mostly held since 19 January has been shattered, with this new wave of attacks suggesting plans for a permanent end to the war may be off the table.
The airstrikes, which hit Beit Lahia, Rafah, Nuseirat and Al-Mawasi, have been condemned by Egypt, a mediator in the talks.
The war was triggered when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 back to Gaza as captives. Israel responded with a massive military offensive, which has killed more than 48,500 Palestinians, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says.
Source link
