Netanyahu calls strikes on Gaza 'only the beginning' as hundreds reported killed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Tuesday evening that Israel has "fully resumed fighting against Hamas in the Gaza Strip." In a strongly worded video statement, he warned that "negotiations can only continue under fire" and that "this is just the beginning."

Netanyahu's remarks came after the Israeli military launched a large-scale airstrike on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas-controlled health ministry reported that the attacks had killed more than 400 people and injured hundreds. This airstrike was the largest since the ceasefire agreement took effect on January 19.

Although the fragile ceasefire had largely held previously, this new round of attacks suggests that plans for a permanent end to the war may have been shelved. On Tuesday, airstrikes on Beit Lahia, Rafah, Nuseirat, and Mawasi shattered the relative calm that Gaza residents had experienced since January, with hospitals once again filled with the wounded.

Egypt, the mediator in the talks, condemned the attacks on Gaza. Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Tamim Halaf stated that the airstrikes were a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire agreement and represented a "dangerous escalation." Gaza Strip hospital director Mohammed Zaqout told BBC Arabic that "The attacks came so suddenly that the existing medical staff was insufficient to cope with such a large-scale attack, and more teams have been immediately mobilized to provide assistance."

In his address, Netanyahu said that Israel had tried to negotiate with Hamas for the release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. He accused Hamas of rejecting these proposals every time. Since the end of the first phase in early March, Israel and Hamas have been at odds over how to proceed with the ceasefire agreement, during which they exchanged Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

The agreement included three phases, and negotiations on the second phase were supposed to begin six weeks ago but did not materialize. Instead, the agreement fell into uncertainty when the US and Israel sought to change the terms of the agreement by extending the first phase (which would release more hostages). This would postpone the start of the second phase, which was supposed to establish a permanent ceasefire and require Israeli forces to withdraw from Gaza. But Hamas rejected the proposed amendments to the agreement by US, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators, calling them unacceptable.

On Tuesday night, Netanyahu said that Israel would continue to fight to achieve all of its war goals—"to return the hostages, eliminate Hamas, and ensure that Hamas does not pose a threat to Israel." US officials said that the Trump administration had consulted with Israel before it launched the attacks. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said, "Hamas could have released the hostages to extend the ceasefire, but chose rejection and war instead."

Hamas warned that Israel's resumption of violence would "sentence" the remaining hostages still held in Gaza to "death" and accused Israel of trying to force its surrender. In an interview with the BBC, Dr. Sabrina Dass, an obstetrician who trains Palestinian doctors in southern Gaza, said, "It's all been very sudden... everyone's emotions have collapsed because we know the war has started again."

Dr. Dass said that her colleagues at Nasser Hospital were "operating all night" because "mass casualties have started pouring in again." A group representing the families of the hostages accused the Israeli government of choosing to "abandon the hostages" by launching the new attacks and has been protesting outside the Israeli parliament.

News of the attacks has terrified some families of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas. Liran Berman, whose twin brothers are still being held in Gaza, told the BBC: "The Israeli government is not perfect, Israel has not done enough because my brothers are not home. But if Hamas wanted to, the hostages would be back. They are in their hands." Israel says Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

The war was triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 back to Gaza as captives. Israel's response has been a massive military offensive that Gaza's Hamas-controlled health ministry says has killed more than 48,500 Palestinians and caused widespread damage to homes and infrastructure.