Israel unleashed its heaviest airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing at least 326 people, including women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted ordering the strikes due to stalled ceasefire negotiations, sparking fears that the 17-month-long war could reignite in full force.
The attacks shattered the relative calm of Ramadan and left uncertainty over the fate of approximately two dozen Israeli hostages believed to still be alive. Senior Hamas leader Izzat al-Risheq accused Netanyahu of condemning hostages to death to save his far-right government and urged mediators to reveal who truly broke the truce.
The strikes come amid mounting pressure on Netanyahu, with mass protests planned over his handling of the hostage crisis and his dismissal of Israel’s internal security chief. His testimony in an ongoing corruption trial was also postponed following the escalation.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum condemned the government for abandoning the ceasefire process, saying it chose politics over the safe return of captives. The White House confirmed it was consulted on the strikes, with spokesperson Karoline Leavitt warning that “all hell will break loose” for those terrorizing Israel and the U.S., including Hamas and its allies.
