JERUSALEM: Israeli airstrikes across Gaza have killed more than 400 people, Palestinian health authorities said on Tuesday, marking one of the deadliest days since the war began. The escalation comes after ceasefire talks failed, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violating the truce that had largely held since January.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military operation was necessary after Hamas rejected proposals for a ceasefire extension. Israeli strikes targeted homes and shelters across Gaza, while tanks fired from the border. The Hamas-run health ministry said 404 people were killed, and 562 were injured, including many children.
In Gaza City, residents described the situation as catastrophic. “It was a night of hell. It felt like the first days of the war,” said Rabiha Jamal, a 65-year-old mother. Families in Beit Hanoun and Khan Younis fled their homes after evacuation orders from the Israeli military, warning of “dangerous combat zones.”
The breakdown of the ceasefire has drawn international reactions. Egypt and Qatar, key mediators, condemned the Israeli assault, while the European Union urged Israel to halt military operations and called on Hamas to release all hostages. However, the U.S. blamed Hamas for the resumption of violence, with acting UN Ambassador Dorothy Shea stating, “The blame lies solely with Hamas.”
Amid the airstrikes, hospitals in Gaza struggled to handle casualties, with bodies stacked in overcrowded facilities. Hamas confirmed the deaths of senior officials, including Essam Addalees, the head of its government.
As Israel expands its operations in Gaza, it has also intensified strikes in the West Bank, southern Lebanon, and Syria. Ceasefire negotiations remain stalled, with Hamas insisting on a permanent truce and full Israeli withdrawal.
