Israel launched widespread airstrikes across Gaza early Tuesday, killing over 400 Palestinians and marking the deadliest assault in the 17-month conflict, according to local health officials.
The strikes, ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, followed Hamas’ rejection of a proposal to release half of the remaining hostages in exchange for extending the ceasefire that had been in place since January.
Netanyahu declared the offensive was "only the beginning," vowing to continue military operations until Hamas was defeated and all hostages were freed. Among those killed were six senior Hamas officials, including top figures in its civilian government and security apparatus.
As Israeli forces intensified their assault, residents in eastern Gaza were ordered to evacuate toward central areas, fueling fears of a renewed ground invasion.
Aid agencies warned that food, medicine, and other essential supplies were critically low due to Israel’s two-week blockade of aid deliveries for Gaza’s two million residents.
The airstrikes targeted homes and shelters, igniting a tent camp as families slept or prepared their pre-dawn meal for Ramadan fasting.
"Everywhere I looked, I found the dead," said Gaza City resident Omar Greygaa. "I don’t know if this is war or a truce." Hamas has not yet launched retaliatory attacks, but Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired rockets toward Israel for the first time since the ceasefire began. The missiles were intercepted, but the escalation further complicated the already tense regional situation.
Netanyahu’s decision to resume military action comes amid domestic turmoil, including mass protests over his handling of the hostage crisis. His latest testimony in a corruption trial was postponed due to the attacks.
The offensive has also shifted Israel’s political landscape. Far-right leader Itamar Ben-Gvir’s party rejoined Netanyahu’s government after previously exiting in protest over the ceasefire.
However, families of hostages accused Netanyahu of endangering their loved ones by resuming attacks instead of negotiating. "Netanyahu didn’t open the gates of hell on Hamas today. He opened them on our loved ones," said Einav Zangauker, whose son remains captive.
Medical facilities across Gaza struggled to treat the rising number of casualties. A single strike in Rafah killed 17 members of one family, including five children, while another in Gaza City left 27 dead—mostly women and children.
At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, doctors worked frantically to save lives. Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan, a volunteer with Medical Aid for Palestinians, described treating a six-year-old girl with brain injuries who arrived alone.
"We don’t know if her family survived," she said. The Gaza Health Ministry reported at least 404 deaths and more than 560 injuries in Tuesday’s strikes, bringing the Palestinian death toll to over 48,500 since the war began.
The White House defended Israel’s actions, stating that Hamas could have extended the ceasefire by releasing more hostages but instead chose war. However, the original ceasefire agreement, brokered by the US, did not require Hamas to release additional captives for an extension.
An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that military operations would likely expand beyond airstrikes. Hamas, however, denied that it was preparing any new attacks before the ceasefire was broken.
The January ceasefire saw Hamas release 25 hostages and the remains of eight others in exchange for 1,700 Palestinian prisoners. Under the agreement’s second phase, all remaining hostages were to be freed, the war was to end, and Israeli forces were to withdraw.
However, Israel refused to negotiate the next phase, instead demanding Hamas first release half of the remaining hostages for a temporary truce. Hamas rejected this and insisted that both sides adhere to the original deal.
Netanyahu’s decision to continue military operations aligns with far-right members of his coalition, who advocate for depopulating Gaza and rebuilding Jewish settlements there. By resuming airstrikes, Netanyahu may also avoid politically difficult negotiations over Gaza’s future governance.
