The US-brokered uneasy ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip has broken down, and there are growing fears that the situation is likely to worsen further. The ceasefire, which was in place for nearly two months, broke down on Monday after Israel launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, killing more than 400 Palestinians.
Hamas confirmed that Essam al-Dalalis, who held the position of head of the Hamas government in Gaza; Bahjat Abu Sultan, who oversaw the militant group's internal operations; Mahmoud Abu Watfa, the general manager of the Hamas interior ministry in Gaza; Ahmad Omar al-Hatta, director general of the Hamas justice ministry; and Abu Obeida Mohammed al-Jamasi, a member of its political bureau, were among those killed in the airstrikes.
Israeli media also reported that Abu Hamza, the spokesman for the al-Quds Brigades, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's military wing, has also been killed in the airstrike in Gaza.
Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza in an effort to pressure Hamas, which still holds 59 of the hostages taken on October 7, 2023, to release them, as the deal to secure their return is stuck in limbo.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has vowed to eliminate Hamas, warned the group that this was "just the beginning."
"From now on, Israel will act against Hamas with increasing force. And from now on, negotiations will only take place under fire," he said, adding, "Hamas has already felt the blow of our arm in the last 24 hours. And I want to assure you: This is just the beginning."
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump had issued what he called a "last warning" to Hamas to release the hostages.
On the resumption of the airstrikes in Gaza, both the US and Israel have confirmed that Washington was consulted about the development.
Meanwhile, Hamas, in a statement, said that it remains in constant contact with mediators and is engaging responsibly and positively with all proposals aimed at halting the Israeli "aggression" and lifting the blockade on Gaza.
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