Israel launches fresh Gaza strikes as it vows to resume fighting ‘in full force’
At least 13 people were reportedly killed in air strikes in Gaza after Israel said it was resuming combat operations in the Palestinian territory.
Palestinian WAFA News Agency reported that two civilians were killed and five injured when Israeli drones hit a tent near the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone.
Israel’s army said it targets the Hamas military ruins that the group is preparing to open fire on Israel. The military said Hamas-controlled ships were also attacked.
This is when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the fight will be “going all out”, adding: “This is just the beginning.”
The bombing was not the same scale as Tuesday, when Hamas – the health ministry that operated said more than 400 people were killed – but was not shown in the new attacks in Israel.
Tuesday’s strike was the heaviest since the fragile ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement came into effect on January 19, and after Israel and Hamas failed to agree on how to get it beyond the initial stage.
The deal involves three phases, and the second phase of negotiations would have started six weeks ago – but that didn’t happen.
In the proposed second phase, Israel will withdraw its troops from Gaza – but Israel and the United States have pushed for the extension of the first phase, freeing more hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners.
Netanyahu has taken the recovery of the battle as its main goal to return to Israel – to return to the hostages and “get rid of” Hamas – but the hostage families criticized the decision, saying it shows that the government has abandoned its loved ones.
Israel said Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
Egypt, a mediator of talks, said the fresh strike was “blatant” to the ceasefire.
A woman and child were killed overnight in an air strike north of Khan Yunis, while four others were killed during a strike in Gaza city, WAFA said.
The Gaza Ministry of Health has not yet brought death to the latest strike.
Hamas has confirmed that several of its leaders were killed during a strike on Tuesday, including de facto government chief Essam a-da’lees.
Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad – his combatants participated in the October 7, 2023 attack, triggering the current conflict.
However, there are also many civilians, including dozens of children, considered dead.
It is now said that regional mediators are pushing Hamas to release some Israeli hostages in exchange for a downgrade.
But Netanyahu has said that going forward, all ceasefire negotiations will be “under fire.”
On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel killed about 1,200 people and captured 251 people, of which 25 were released during the first phase of the ceasefire.
Hamas – The Ministry of Operations Health said Israel killed more than 48,500 Palestinians with a massive military offensive and caused massive damage to homes and infrastructure.
