Israel have broken the ceasefire deal with Hamas and killed at least 300 Palestinians after launching a barrage of air strikes on Gaza early Tuesday morning.
The Israeli attacks hit densely populated urban areas, makeshift schools, residential buildings, and areas sheltering displaced people in tents.
Later, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) ordered people taking succour in eastern Gaza to evacuate the region saying it was launching strikes on “terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation” in the Gaza Strip.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he authorised the attacks alongside Israel Katz, the defence minister.
“This follows Hamas’ repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all of the proposals it has received from US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and from the mediators,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office said.
“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” the statement added, until the war’s “objectives” are achieved.
One of the requirements for ending the war, Netanyahu said at the time the war began in 2023, was to wipe out the Palestinian militant group.
Tuesday’s surprise attack came as many residents were having their pre-dawn meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and raised the prospect of a full return to fighting.
Hamas health officials said entire families were wiped out and that children were among the casualties.
The war erupted when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Most have been released in ceasefires or other deals, with israeli forces rescuing only eight and recovering dozens of bodies.
Israel responded with a military offensive that killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and displaced an estimated 90% of Gaza’s population. The territory’s Health Ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians and militants, but says over half of the dead have been women and children.
The ceasefire had brought some relief to Gaza and allowed hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to resume to what remained of their homes.
Both Russia and China warned against an escalation in Gaza.
