Truce fails, over 232 Palestinians killed as Israel restarts Gaza strikes

Gaza’s fragile ceasefire was abruptly shattered in the wee hours of Tuesday as Israel executed what it described as “extensive strikes” on Hamas terror group targets, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to use “increasing military strength” against the militant group, and Defense Minister Israel Katz declaring, “Tonight we returned to fighting in Gaza.”

Israel accused Hamas of “repeatedly” refusing to release hostages and rejecting mediation offers as well as its rejection of all of the proposals it has received from US special envoy to the Mideast Envoy Steve Witkoff and from the mediators.”

At least 232 Palestinians were killed, including children, according to unverified figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants.

Meanwhile, Hamas has accused Israel of overturning the nearly two-month-long ceasefire agreement and “putting the captives in Gaza at risk of an unknown fate.”

Hamas has insisted on sticking with the original terms of the deal, which was supposed to enter its second phase at the beginning of the month.

That phase according to the Times of Israel, envisioned Israel fully withdrawing from Gaza and agreeing to permanently end the war in exchange for the release of the remaining living hostages.

While Israel signed on to the deal, Netanyahu has long insisted that Israel will not end the war until Hamas’s governing and military capabilities have been destroyed.

Accordingly, Israel refused to even hold talks regarding the terms of phase two, which were supposed to begin on February 3.

The terror group demanded Arab and Muslim countries to back “Palestinian resistance” aimed at “breaking the unjust blockade imposed on Gaza.”

Also, the militant group has urged the UN Security Council to urgently convene to issue a resolution obligating Israel to halt its “aggression.”

Moreover, in its statement announcing the overnight strike, Netanyahu’s office said the operation is designed to achieve Israel’s war aims, the dismantlement of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities and the return of all remaining 59 hostages.

Hostage families have long argued that those aims contradict each other and that a return to fighting will endanger their loved ones.

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