Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the Israeli military to carry out immediate and powerful strikes on the Gaza Strip, signaling a sharp escalation in the region following a fragile ceasefire agreement. Netanyahu’s office released a statement announcing that the Prime Minister, following security discussions, instructed military leaders to execute robust operations against Gaza without delay.
The move comes amid reports of Hamas firing on Israeli Defense Forces in southern Gaza and a controversial incident involving the return of remains by Hamas. Israel asserted that the remains returned by Hamas were from a hostage previously recovered by Israeli forces, deeming it a clear violation of the ceasefire terms that mandated the prompt return of all Israeli hostages.
The ceasefire, brokered by the United States and initiated on October 10, had brought hopes of de-escalation after nearly two years of conflict marked by severe casualties and humanitarian crises. Since October 7, 2023, the conflict has claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 Israelis in Hamas-led attacks and resulted in over 68,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza health officials.
Netanyahu’s order confronts this ceasefire and comes at a time when Israel is aiming to neutralize militant threats and dismantle Hamas’ tunnel systems and military capabilities. The return and identification of hostages’ remains have complicated ceasefire implementation, with ongoing disputes over accountability hindering progress towards lasting peace.