The conflict between Israel and Hamas has once again erupted into violence, with the Israeli military confirming on Wednesday that it had launched "targeted ground activities" in Gaza. This comes just a day after Israel resumed its aerial bombardment of the territory, effectively shattering the two-month-old ceasefire agreement.
Renewed Hostilities and Accusations
The escalation began when Israel accused Hamas of repeatedly refusing to release hostages and rejecting mediator proposals. In response, Hamas placed the blame on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alleging that his unilateral actions had put hostages "at risk of an unknown fate."
On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that its troops had initiated ground operations in central and southern Gaza. According to the IDF, the goal was to expand the security zone and establish a partial buffer between northern and southern Gaza. As part of these actions, Israeli forces took control of more territory within the strategically significant Netzarim Corridor.
Heavy Casualties and Growing Humanitarian Crisis
The violence has taken a devastating toll on civilians. According to Gaza’s Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal, at least 70 people lost their lives in the latest attacks. Of those, 50 were killed in northern and central Gaza, while 20 died in the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis.
One of the most tragic incidents occurred in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, where an Israeli airstrike hit a funeral home, claiming 24 lives. Another strike in the Al-Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City killed 21 people, including six children. The grim statistics from Tuesday’s airstrikes alone recorded over 400 deaths, making it one of the deadliest days in the ongoing conflict.
The situation is exacerbated by a worsening humanitarian crisis. Gaza’s Civil Defense has issued stark warnings about an impending famine, as Israel’s nearly three-week-long blockade of humanitarian aid continues to push the already fragile enclave to the brink. "We are on the brink of famine threatening the residents of the Gaza Strip," Basal stated, emphasizing the urgency of the crisis.
The Collapse of the Ceasefire and its Aftermath
Under the ceasefire deal signed in January, Israel had withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor, a key area dividing northern and central Gaza from the southern region near Egypt. Despite this withdrawal, foreign military contractors had continued to operate checkpoints between northern and southern Gaza. When the truce took effect, thousands of Palestinians poured through the corridor, hoping to return to homes that had been reduced to rubble after months of relentless Israeli bombardment.
However, the renewed violence has once again displaced countless families, forcing them into even more precarious living conditions. Defense Minister Israel Katz has made it clear that Gaza’s residents will "pay the full price" if Israeli hostages are not returned and Hamas remains in power.
UN Worker Killed Amidst the Fighting
Amid the intensifying conflict, the United Nations confirmed that one of its international aid workers was killed in Gaza by an "explosive ordnance" at a UN guesthouse. Five others were injured. The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) chief, Jorge Moreira da Silva, revealed that the guesthouse had been attacked multiple times within the week.
Da Silva asserted that the building’s location was well known to the IDF and was in an isolated area with no surrounding structures. "Two days ago, there was a near miss to this premises, and yesterday the premises was hit. Today, there was another hit, unfortunately, with these casualties," he said. "It cannot be categorized as an accident. Attacks on humanitarian premises are a breach of international law."
Israeli officials acknowledged the death of a Bulgarian UN worker but stopped short of accepting responsibility. Footage from CNN showed a hole on the side of the building, with experts suggesting that the damage was consistent with an Israeli tank round. While the IDF has denied conducting an airstrike in the area, it has yet to confirm or deny whether the attack was caused by tank fire.
Protests Erupt in Israel
As the conflict continues, domestic unrest in Israel is also mounting. Thousands of protesters gathered outside Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem, voicing opposition to Netanyahu’s handling of the war. Critics argue that the prime minister is using the war as a political tool to stabilize his fragile coalition government.
The demonstrations turned violent when police clashed with protesters, arresting 12 individuals. Protesters were specifically rallying against Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss Ronen Bar, the chief of the Shin Bet security service. Video footage from the scene captured intense confrontations between police and demonstrators, with officers pushing protesters and forcibly restraining an elderly man.
According to a police statement, officers had to deploy "crowd-control measures" due to severe public disorder. They cited instances of demonstrators setting fires in the streets, creating hazardous conditions for fellow protesters.
What Comes Next?
With the ceasefire now in tatters, the Israeli military appears poised for further escalation. An Israeli official indicated that the recent airstrikes were just the "first phase" in a broader military strategy to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages. Netanyahu has long maintained that military pressure is the most effective way to achieve this objective.
Since the beginning of the conflict on October 7, 2023, Hamas and its allies have taken 251 hostages. While some have been released through prisoner exchange deals, Israel has so far managed to rescue only eight hostages alive through military operations.
As tensions continue to rise, both on the battlefield and within Israeli society, the path toward peace remains uncertain. The world watches anxiously as the crisis in Gaza deepens, hoping for a resolution that spares further loss of life and brings some measure of stability to the region.
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