Israel strikes Gaza again: US threatens to “unleash hell” and Russia reacts to massacre
Netanyahu’s government surprises with the end of the ceasefire in Gaza, causing over 400 deaths while negotiating the second phase of the truce with Hamas. Serious warning from the United States.
The Israeli government resumed the war in Gaza early on Tuesday with the largest attack since the ceasefire began two months ago, marking the de facto and surprising breakdown of the ceasefire. The attack took place at several points in the enclave, causing at least 402 deaths, according to the latest figures from the Gaza government, which also reported 562 injuries and numerous missing people.
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“A large number of the dead have not been able to reach hospitals due to the difficult humanitarian situation on the ground and the paralysis of the transport sector because of the fuel shortage in all Gaza provinces,” the government reported, referring to the scarcity of fuel in the enclave, which worsened when Israel began blocking aid access at the start of the month.
After 2 a.m. local time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office reported that he had ordered the military to “act strongly against the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip.”
Netanyahu’s office justified the attack due to Hamas’ “repeated refusal” to free hostages still in their possession and their rejection of U.S. proposals to extend the first phase of the ceasefire, instead of moving to the second phase and ending the war, as initially agreed.
Fifteen minutes later, in another statement, the military confirmed that they were carrying out “extensive attacks on terrorist targets belonging to the Hamas organization in the Gaza Strip.”
The bombings, targeting multiple locations in the enclave, hit, among others, schools housing refugees and humanitarian areas, causing casualties in Khan Younis, in the south of Gaza; as well as in Nuseirat and Al-Bureij in the center; and in Jabalia and Gaza City in the north, according to reports and images from Palestinian media.
Coinciding with the operation, the Israeli military announced a change in security measures in Israeli border areas near Gaza, moving from “full activity” to “limited activity,” which includes the suspension of school activities.
Hamas’ response
Once the attack began, the Islamist group Hamas accused Netanyahu of “torpedoing” the ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages, whose second phase was under negotiation after 58 days of ceasefire. Hamas warned that this would put the hostages at risk.
“Netanyahu and his extremist government are making the decision to revoke the ceasefire agreement, exposing the prisoners in Gaza to an unknown fate,” the Islamist group wrote in a statement posted on social media.
Hamas pointed out that Netanyahu was “fully responsible for the consequences of this treacherous aggression on Gaza and against defenseless civilians.”
Former Israeli Minister of National Security and leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, Itamar Ben Gvir – who left the coalition government in protest of the ceasefire signing – expressed support for the government’s decision to resume the war in Gaza. “This is the correct, moral, ethical, and most justified step, to destroy the Hamas terrorist organization and bring back our hostages,” he said in a message.
The United States was informed; threatens to “unleash hell”
After the attacks, the White House stated that Israel consulted them before resuming the attacks. “The Trump Administration and the White House were consulted by the Israelis about their attacks in Gaza tonight,” said White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt in an interview with Fox News.
“As President (Donald) Trump has made clear, Hamas, the Houthis, Iran, and all those who seek to terrorize not only Israel but also the United States will pay a price: hell will be unleashed,” the spokesperson promised.
Russia’s reaction
Russia today condemned the Israeli bombings last night, which caused more than 300 deaths in the Gaza Strip, calling it the “beginning of a new spiral of tension” in the Middle East.
“Undoubtedly, it is a new worsening of the situation, it is the beginning of a new spiral of tension that concerns us,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov during his daily press briefing.