Israel resumed heavy airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza on Thursday after issuing a “last warning” to Palestinians to return hostages and remove Hamas from power. The offensive shattered a period of relative calm since a ceasefire was established in mid-January.
The airstrikes began early on Tuesday, killing over 400 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and at least 10 more were killed in a bombing near Khan Yunis on Thursday. The Israeli military confirmed the resumption of ground operations in central and southern Gaza to expand the security perimeter, disregarding calls for ceasefire preservation from foreign governments.
With Gaza in devastation once again, locals have been sifting through rubble to find the bodies of their loved ones. “We’re digging with our bare hands,” said a man in Gaza City, describing the aftermath of the bombing.
As Israel urged civilians to leave combat zones, families fled, filling roads with their children. Fred Oola, a senior medical officer at the Red Cross field hospital in Rafah, noted the panic in the air as the strikes shattered the calm of the past two months.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stern message in a video, telling Gaza’s residents: “This is the last warning. Return the hostages and remove Hamas, and other options will open for you – including the possibility of leaving for other places.”
Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, 58 are still held by militants. Despite calls for negotiation, Hamas rejected Israel’s demand to renegotiate the terms of the ceasefire deal, stating there is no need for new agreements. Hamas also insists on continuing negotiations for phase two, which involves a ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza while hostages are exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.
The renewed bombardment has resulted in new casualties, with at least five people injured in a UN building hit by explosive ordnance in Deir El-Balah. This incident has raised concerns about violations of international law.
As the violence continues, protesters in Israel have taken to the streets, urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to prioritize the return of hostages, with over 48,570 deaths reported in Gaza since the conflict began.
