Israel and Hamas on brink of war again, as strikes kill hundreds

Israel launched a series of attacks against Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing more than 400 people, according to Palestinian authorities, and threatening a return to full-scale war after talks to release the remaining hostages held in the enclave stalled.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, ordered the strikes after Hamas failed to release hostages that they still keep in captivity. Israel’s renewed attacks in Gaza are “not a one-day operation” and the country’s military campaign will continue in the coming days, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said.

The United States was informed prior to the renewed attacks on Gaza, which were initially decided upon several days ago, Sa’ar told the Board of Directors of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Jerusalem.

“We are now 17 days after the conclusion of the first phase of the deal. We conducted negotiations to extend the first phase, led by President Trump’s Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff. Witkoff presented two different proposals, both of which Hamas rejected,” Sa’ar told the board at the foreign ministry.

This comes less than 2 months after a tentative ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, that had been planned extensively as the Biden administration came to a close. The threats of then-incoming President Donald Trump were widely credited with forcing Hamas to the negotiating table.

The top US diplomat at the United Nations said Tuesday “the blame for the resumption of hostilities” in Gaza “lies solely with Hamas” after Israel pummeled the strip with airstrikes, killing more than 400 people.

“This brutal terrorist organization has steadfastly refused every proposal and deadline they have been presented over the past few weeks, including a bridge proposal to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover to allow time to negotiate a framework for a permanent ceasefire,” charge d’affaires Dorothy Shea said at a UN Security Council meeting Tuesday.

“Hamas refused this offer, preferring still to hold hostages captive and hide amongst the people of Gaza, using them as human shields,” Shea said. “It is the people of Gaza who will suffer further because of Hamas’s disregard for human life.” Shea noted that US President Donald Trump “has made clear that Hamas must release the hostages immediately or pay a high price, and we support Israel in its next steps.”

A State Department spokesperson argued that “every death would have and could have been avoided had Hamas accepted the ‘bridge’ proposal” put forward by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.“ Hamas bears total responsibility for the war, and for the resumption of hostilities,” they said.

These strikes have not yet resulted in a complete resumption of hostilities between Hamas and Israel, but with Israel planning these attacks days in advance, and indicating that they are ready for battles for the long haul, it is heading in that direction.