The Gaza ceasefire, eagerly anticipated, has shattered as the Israeli Prime Minister directed his forces to initiate “intense strikes” on the Palestinian territory. This action came after the Israeli PM accused Hamas of blatantly violating the peace agreement, while Hamas retaliated by alleging that Israel had committed 125 breaches of the ceasefire.
Israel reported that a coffin handed over by Hamas on Monday did not contain the body of a missing hostage it was expecting. This development marked the apparent end of the two-week ceasefire, replaced by a surge of violence and extensive airstrikes.
According to Gazan officials, since the ceasefire began on October 10, Israel has caused the death of 94 Palestinians within the Strip. In a statement, Hamas on Tuesday accused Israel of attempting to create false reasons to justify taking aggressive actions in Gaza.
Hamas stated that Israel is impeding efforts to search for bodies in the Strip and urged mediators to facilitate humanitarian tasks without political or aggressive motives. Palestinians in the Strip are now anxiously awaiting potential new attacks by Israel.
Earlier on Tuesday, there were reports of heavy gunfire and explosions in Rafah, southern Gaza. Israel claimed that Hamas misidentified the remains of a recently returned captive, which actually belonged to an abductee whose body was recovered two years ago.
Israel’s conflict with Gaza has led to the deaths of at least 68,527 individuals and injuries to 170,395 since it commenced in October 2023. During the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, 1,200 people died in Israel, and approximately 200 were taken captive.
The October 7 attacks triggered various confrontations for Israel, including with Lebanese Hezbollah, Yemeni Houthis, pro-Iran Iraqi militia, and Syrian factions. Additionally, earlier this year, the US and Israel conducted strikes on Iran, targeting its nuclear facilities.
Many of Israel’s adversaries, aligned with Iran, now face destruction, potentially requiring years to rebuild their strength. The Iranian regime, a sponsor of these groups, has also suffered significant setbacks due to prolonged conflicts with Israel, leading to the weakening of Hamas in Gaza.
Critics have accused Netanyahu of deliberately provoking actions to undermine the ceasefire agreement. Muhammad Shehada, an analyst with the European Council on Foreign Relations, alleged that Netanyahu has been attempting to find ways to resume hostilities in Gaza since the ceasefire began.
Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement, necessitating extensive diplomatic efforts to restore the peace deal. There are indications that US President Donald Trump is closely monitoring the Israeli military actions against Gaza.