Early Tuesday morning, Israel launched a heavy bombardment of Gaza, marking a dramatic escalation in the conflict. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas barely lasted two months before it completely fell apart.
Hundreds of Palestinians were killed in the strikes, making Tuesday the deadliest day in Gaza since the initial weeks of fighting that began in late 2023. By Wednesday, the Israeli military had announced it was conducting “targeted ground activities” and had partially reclaimed the Netzarim Corridor, a critical route that cuts through Gaza. Airstrikes continued across the strip, including in Al-Mawasi – a zone Israel had previously designated as “safe,” despite repeated attacks there.
Once again, Israel dropped leaflets ordering evacuations, forcing more Palestinians to flee. And in a televised address Tuesday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear: “From now on, negotiations will only take place under fire… This is just the beginning.”
So, what triggered this escalation? Why Did Israel Resume the War?
The Israeli government has cited multiple reasons.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant blamed Hamas for refusing to release hostages and for threatening Israeli troops and civilians. This justification isn’t new, it’s the same reason Israel has given since October 7, 2023, when Hamas first took hostages and launched attacks.
Israel’s broader war objectives remain unchanged:
–Bring home the remaining hostages.
–Dismantle Hamas’ political and military control over Gaza.
But there’s more to it. On Tuesday, Israel’s foreign ministry claimed the strikes were a response to Hamas rejecting two ceasefire proposals brokered by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. An Israeli official later described the attacks as the “first phase in a series of escalatory military actions” meant to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages.
Domestic Politics Played a Huge Role
Beyond military objectives, Israeli domestic politics has been a major factor in resuming the war.
For months, Israel’s far-right factions have opposed the ceasefire, arguing that it amounted to surrendering to Hamas. Some hardliners even advocate for the complete removal of Palestinians from Gaza and the re-establishment of Israeli settlements.
Netanyahu’s political survival depends on keeping these far-right leaders in his coalition. One of them, Itamar Ben Gvir, had quit the government in protest of the ceasefire. Another, Bezalel Smotrich, threatened to do the same unless Israel resumed the war—an act that could have toppled Netanyahu’s government.
By Tuesday, Ben Gvir’s party, Jewish Power, agreed to rejoin Netanyahu’s coalition, a major political win for the Prime Minister.
At the same time, Netanyahu is facing backlash over his plan to fire the head of Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, a decision that has sparked calls for mass protests. Resuming the war in Gaza shifts attention away from that controversy.
Israel’s military leaders, now under a new IDF Chief of Staff, appear to be preparing for a long, drawn-out fight. As Smotrich put it: “This is a phased operation… And with God’s help, it will look completely different from what has been done so far.”
For Gaza, that means more airstrikes, more evacuations, and more devastation. For Netanyahu, it means political survival, at least for now.
But What Really Happened to the Ceasefire Talks?
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which began on January 19, was supposed to have a second phase. Hamas expressed its willingness to negotiate this phase, as outlined in the original truce agreement.
Under the proposed terms, Israel would have withdrawn from Gaza entirely and agreed to a permanent end to the war, while Hamas would have released all remaining hostages. However, Israel rejected these conditions, insisting that hostages should continue to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners – without any commitment to end the war or withdraw troops.
Negotiations for this second phase were supposed to begin on February 3, but Israel ignored the deadline. In an unusual diplomatic shift, the U.S. began direct talks with Hamas, despite classifying the group as a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, Israeli negotiators held meetings in Qatar and Egypt, reportedly as recently as Sunday, to push discussions forward.
Israel claims that U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff proposed a temporary ceasefire extension through Ramadan and Passover in late April. However, this proposal did not include the commitments made in January. Hamas rejected it outright, accusing Netanyahu’s government of attempting to sabotage the original agreement.
The gap between the two sides remains vast.
Last week, Hamas offered to release American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, along with the bodies of four other dual nationals -presumably deceased American-Israelis -in exchange for Israel adhering to the original ceasefire terms agreed upon on January 17, 2025.
Israel dismissed the offer as “psychological warfare.”
Has the War Resumed in Full?
While Israel has been tight-lipped about operational details, its military announced it was conducting “extensive strikes on terror targets in Gaza.”
By Tuesday, Israel ordered thousands of Palestinians to evacuate large sections of Gaza, particularly areas near its border. This has fueled speculation that Israel is preparing for another full-scale ground invasion, potentially pushing deeper into urban centers, a move it has not previously undertaken.
Since the ceasefire began on January 19, Israeli forces had largely withdrawn to Gaza’s borders, but the latest developments suggest a strategy of escalating pressure on Hamas. An Israeli official confirmed that military operations will gradually intensify, with the goal of forcing Hamas to negotiate “under fire.”
Meanwhile, Hamas and its allies, who have killed hundreds of Israeli soldiers since October 7, 2023, have thus far upheld the ceasefire on their end. Israel has repeatedly claimed that rockets were launched from within Gaza, but it has not provided evidence, and Hamas has not fired any missiles into Israel during the two-month truce.
What Does This Mean for Gazans?
It is catastrophic.
Tuesday marked the deadliest day in Gaza since November 7, 2023, when 548 Palestinians were killed.
For over two weeks, Israel has blocked all humanitarian aid into Gaza, citing Hamas’ refusal to accept its revised ceasefire terms. With war resuming, conditions are set to deteriorate further.
Palestinians have once again been forced to flee. Israel’s military ordered civilians to abandon areas deemed unsafe, leaving them with almost nowhere to go.
Ahmad Al Shaafi, a Palestinian sheltering in Deir el-Balah, described the horror of the latest bombings:
“Don’t the Israelis have any promises they are committed to? It was a terrifying night. Only God is merciful. There are still two children under the rubble—one 26 years old and the other 5. We cannot retrieve them.”
Since Hamas’ October 7 attack, Israeli military strikes have killed nearly 49,000 Palestinians—the majority of them civilians—according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Philippe Lazzarini, the UN’s top official on Palestinian affairs, warned:
“Fueling ‘hell on earth’ by resuming the war will only bring more despair & suffering.”
What Does This Mean for the Hostages?
The resumption of war is a devastating setback for hostage negotiations.
There are still 59 hostages in Gaza, with only 24 believed to be alive.
Their families have reacted with anger and despair.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a scathing statement:
“The Israeli government chose to give up on the hostages. We are shocked, angry, and terrified by the deliberate dismantling of the process to return our loved ones from the terrible captivity of Hamas.”
What Role Did the U.S. Play?
The United States was deeply involved behind the scenes.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Monday that “the Trump administration and the White House were consulted by the Israelis on their attacks in Gaza.”
President Donald Trump had previously taken credit for brokering the initial ceasefire, but he has also openly supported Israel’s decision to resume military operations.
In a fiery statement earlier this month, Trump declared: “I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job. Not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!”
With war escalating and diplomatic efforts crumbling, Gaza now faces one of its darkest chapters yet.
