Gaza’s fragile ceasefire was shattered early Tuesday as Israel carried out what it described as “extensive strikes” on Hamas targets. After the ceasefire ended, far-right Israeli politician Itamar Ben Gvir said he would rejoin the government. Separately, several Arab nations accused Israel of violating the ceasefire.
Hamas accused Israel of overturning the nearly two-month-long ceasefire agreement and “putting the captives in Gaza at risk of an unknown fate.” Israel accused Hamas of “repeatedly” refusing to release hostages and rejecting mediation offers.
Israel’s attack has killed over 400 people and wounded hundreds more, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It’s the deadliest day in Gaza since November 7, 2023.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, just two months old, has been shaky for some time. But that was thoroughly shattered by Israel’s bombardment of Gaza overnight.
The Israeli government has given different reasons for restarting the fighting.
Overnight, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the attacks were “due to Hamas’ refusal to release the hostages and threats to harm IDF soldiers and Israeli communities.” If that sounds like the same reason Israel has given for attacking Gaza since October 7, 2023, that’s because it is. Israel’s war goals in Gaza are to return the 251 hostages taken by Hamas and destroy Hamas’ governing and military capabilities.
Another Israeli official said Israel’s airstrikes in Gaza are the first phase in a series of escalatory military actions aimed at pressuring Hamas into releasing more hostages, marking a return to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s view that military pressure is the most effective way to secure the release of hostages.
Credit: cnn.com
The post Israel pounds Gaza with wave of deadly strikes to impede fragile ceasefire appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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