Israel Airstrikes Kill Over 400 In Gaza

At least 413 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza overnight, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The strikes occurred on Monday night following the collapse of ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.

The Israeli military confirmed that its “extensive” strikes targeted Hamas across the Gaza Strip, killing dozens of people.

The BBC reported that the entire neighbourhood has been reduced to rubble, with hospitals struggling to manage the influx of casualties.

The latest figures suggest that among the dead are more than 50 children and 28 women, the BBC stated, citing the health ministry.

The truce, which began on January 19, saw a pause to the 15-month war in Gaza as residents started returning to the region. However, both parties have been unable to reach negotiations for phase two of the ceasefire following the end of phase one last month.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the airstrikes were in response to Hamas’s “repeated refusal” to release Israeli hostages and the group’s rejection of all ceasefire extension proposals. He vowed to “act against Hamas with increasing military strength.”

Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed to continue striking Gaza, stating, “We will keep fighting in Gaza as long as the hostages are not returned and all our war aims are not achieved.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Oren Marmorstein, defended the military operation, stating that “Hamas repeatedly refused the proposal to extend the ceasefire and release our hostages. So with no other choice, we launched the strikes.”

The Israeli government claimed that 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with up to 24 believed to be alive. However, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group representing relatives of those held captive, accused the Israeli government of “giving up” on the hostages by resuming military action.

Following the incident, the Palestine Red Crescent reported that hospitals in Gaza are “overwhelmed” with casualties and that one of their ambulances was indirectly hit while trying to reach victims. They stated that the closure of the Rafah crossing into Egypt further complicated medical evacuation, making it difficult for them to help more people.

Rosalia Bollen, a spokesperson for UNICEF in southern Gaza, described the overnight bombardment as relentless. “We woke up to very loud explosions. The guest house was shaking. Every five or six seconds, we heard another blast,” she told the BBC.

Reacting to the strikes, UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk expressed shock at the incident and called on both parties to try to settle the issue amicably to avoid further loss of lives.

“I am horrified by last night’s Israeli airstrikes and shelling in Gaza, which killed hundreds, according to the Ministry of Health in the strip. This will add tragedy onto tragedy,” he said in a statement

“The last 18 months of violence have made abundantly clear that there is no military path out of this crisis. The only way forward is a political settlement, in line with international law. Israel’s resort to yet more military force will only heap further misery upon a Palestinian population already suffering catastrophic conditions.

“This nightmare must end immediately. The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. All those arbitrarily detained must be released immediately and unconditionally. The war must end permanently. We urge all parties with influence to do all in their power to achieve peace and avoid further suffering of civilians,” the statement read.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s airstrikes, describing it as a new phase in “genocide.”

“The aggression displayed by the Israeli government threatens the future of the region,” the statement read. “It is unacceptable that Israel is causing a new spiral of violence.”

Egypt, a key mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks, lashed out at Israel, calling its new offensive on Gaza a “flagrant violation of the ceasefire deal.”

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it rejects “all Israeli attacks that aim to… make ongoing efforts to de-escalate and regain stability fail.”

It called for the international community to “immediately intervene to stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.”

It also urged the parties to “exercise restraint” and give mediators a space to “complete their efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire.”

Meanwhile, Palestinian civilians have continued to flee the region as Israel has issued fresh evacuation orders for different areas, including Beit Hanoun and parts of Gaza City.

Israel Airstrikes Kill Over 400 In Gaza is first published on The Whistler Newspaper