Israeli airstrikes intensified across the Gaza Strip this week, claiming at least 326 lives and threatening to unravel a fragile two-month ceasefire brokered in January, according to Palestinian health authorities. The strikes mark the most severe escalation since the ceasefire began, reigniting fears of prolonged conflict as Israel vows to intensify efforts to secure hostages held by Hamas.
Hamas, which retains 59 hostages seized during its October 2023 attack, accused Israel of violating ceasefire terms and derailing mediation talks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the military campaign, stating forces were ordered to take 'strong action' against Hamas for refusing hostage releases and rejecting truce proposals. 'Our mission remains clear: bring our people home,' Netanyahu said.
The bombardment targeted residential areas and tent camps from northern Gaza City to southern Rafah, with eyewitnesses describing scenes of chaos. Rabiha Jamal, a 65-year-old Gaza City resident, told Reuters via chat app: 'It felt like the first days of the war again. We thought peace was here, but now we’re back to fearing every moment.'
Gaza’s hospitals, already overwhelmed after 15 months of conflict, reported mass casualties, with officials stating many victims were children. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk condemned the strikes, warning they would 'heap further misery upon a Palestinian population already suffering catastrophic conditions.'
Egypt, a key mediator, urged restraint while Israel halted aid deliveries to Gaza for a third week, deepening humanitarian shortages. Regional tensions also flared, with Israeli media reporting preparations for potential retaliatory strikes from Hamas or Yemen-based groups.
Analysts warn the escalation risks expanding the conflict beyond Gaza, with spillover violence already reported in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq. As international efforts to revive dialogue stall, civilians brace for another chapter in a war with no clear end in sight.
