The recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas has once again brought tragedy to the people of Gaza. Israeli airstrikes have killed at least five Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials in the enclave. The Israeli army claims to have targeted a Hamas military site in the north of Gaza.
Three people lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike on a house in the Sabra suburb of Gaza City, while another airstrike resulted in the deaths of two men and injuries to six others in Beit Hanoun town in the northern part of the territory. The Israeli military stated that they struck the Hamas site in response to detecting preparations for firing into Israeli territory. This action marked a resumption of airstrikes after a period of relative calm lasting nearly two months.
In addition to the airstrikes, Israeli naval vessels also targeted several boats that were allegedly intended to carry out “terrorist” acts by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militant groups. Palestinians reported that an Israeli drone fired at fishing boats near Gaza City, causing some of them to catch fire.
As tensions continued to escalate, the Israeli army dropped leaflets in areas of Beit Hanoun and Khan Younis, warning residents to evacuate their homes due to the “dangerous combat zones” in the area. The airstrikes on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of over 400 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, and Israel has warned that this is “just the beginning” of their military campaign.
Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of breaking the ceasefire that had been in place since January, providing a brief respite for the 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the airstrikes were carried out because Hamas had rejected proposals to extend the ceasefire. Hamas, on the other hand, accused Israel of undermining efforts by mediators to negotiate a permanent peace deal.
Despite the ongoing violence, Hamas officials have expressed their commitment to concluding the three-phase ceasefire deal that was previously agreed upon. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has a long and tragic history, with casualties on both sides. As the violence continues to escalate, it is crucial for international mediators to step in and facilitate a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
