Israel escalated its military offensive against Hamas in the besieged Gaza Strip on Monday, deepening international concerns over the rising civilian death toll in the conflict. The return to open warfare followed the expiration of a truce between Israel and Hamas, with ripple effects felt across a region teetering on the brink of a broader conflagration.
Since the truce ended on Friday, hostilities resumed between Hamas and Israeli forces, marked by rocket launches from Gaza and Israeli airstrikes on Palestinian territory. Over the weekend, Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza produced thick clouds of smoke and dust, with the Israeli military reporting intercepted rocket salvos from Gaza on Sunday.
Reports emerged of a strike hitting the entrance of Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza, causing casualties. While the Israeli military often accuses Hamas of using civilian infrastructure for military purposes, the Palestinian government and Hamas condemned the strike as a “grave violation” of humanitarian law.
Israel, vowing to crush Hamas in response to attacks on October 7, expanded its ground operation in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) asserted that wherever there is a Hamas stronghold, the IDF operates. The conflict has resulted in numerous casualties and fatalities, with the Gaza health ministry reporting over 15,500 people killed since October 7, more than half of them women and children.
Under a truce mediated by Qatar with support from Egypt and the United States, 80 Israeli captives were freed in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. However, fighting resumed on Friday, and Israeli negotiators were withdrawn from Qatar, citing an impasse in the negotiations.
With 137 captives still held in Gaza, Hamas ruled out further releases until a permanent ceasefire is agreed upon. The Israeli military reported around 10,000 airstrikes since the conflict’s start, and on Sunday, two Israeli soldiers died in combat.
The escalating death toll in Gaza has prompted international concern over Israel’s conduct of the war. The United States, Israel’s ally, intensified calls for the protection of Gaza’s civilians, with Vice President Kamala Harris expressing concern over the loss of innocent Palestinian lives.
As fears of a wider regional conflict grew, a US destroyer shot down multiple drones over the Red Sea, targeting commercial ships. Houthi fighters, claiming responsibility for targeting two ships, have escalated their drone and missile attacks towards Israel in recent weeks.
In Iraq, an airstrike killed at least five pro-Iranian fighters on Sunday, raising tensions after Baghdad warned the US against “attacks” on its territory. Additionally, fighting flared on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, with the Israeli army launching artillery strikes in response to cross-border fire, and Hezbollah claiming attacks on Israeli positions.
The situation remains volatile, with international actors urging a de-escalation of hostilities to prevent further loss of life and regional instability.
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