The fragile peace that had held in Gaza for nearly two months shattered on Tuesday as Israeli airstrikes pummeled the territory, killing more than 400 Palestinians, according to health officials. The renewed violence follows the collapse of a truce that had been in place since January, with both Israel and Hamas blaming each other for its failure.
“This is just the beginning,” warned Israeli officials as plumes of smoke rose over Gaza’s devastated landscape. The return to full-scale hostilities signals the failure of diplomatic efforts that had briefly offered hope for de-escalation in the long-running conflict.
At the core of the ceasefire breakdown is a fundamental impasse between Israel and Hamas. Israel has pursued two primary objectives—securing the release of hostages and dismantling Hamas as a governing force in Gaza. However, these goals have proven to be at odds with one another. The military campaign to eliminate Hamas jeopardizes the safety of the 59 hostages still held captive, complicating negotiations for their release.
Hamas, meanwhile, regards the hostages as its primary leverage in talks. The group has refused to release more captives unless Israel commits to a permanent cessation of hostilities and a full military withdrawal from Gaza—conditions that Israel has categorically rejected as long as Hamas remains in power. This deadlock has stalled efforts to move beyond the initial phase of the ceasefire.
The truce, which began on January 19, had initially facilitated a prisoner exchange between the two sides, but it was only meant to be the first step in a broader peace process. The second phase, which was intended to secure a permanent resolution, has failed to progress due to these intractable differences.
Mediators from Egypt and Qatar have attempted to salvage the ceasefire by proposing a phased compromise. Their latest proposal would have Hamas release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander and the remains of four American hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire extension. During this period, approximately half of the remaining hostages would be freed, and negotiations for a lasting truce would continue.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff recently visited the region to push for an agreement prioritizing hostage releases before discussions on ending the war. However, he accused Hamas of “publicly claiming flexibility while privately making demands that are entirely impractical without a permanent ceasefire.” Hamas, in response, insisted that it was simply upholding the original terms of the ceasefire rather than renegotiating a new agreement.
Israel had indicated as early as February that it would not withdraw from key strategic areas in Gaza, a stance that undermined the second phase of the truce agreement. With both sides unwilling to compromise on their core positions, the ceasefire collapsed, giving way to renewed military operations.
The conflict in Gaza is further complicated by rising regional tensions. Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, who have expressed support for Hamas, have launched attacks on international shipping and targeted Israel. In response, U.S. forces have carried out strikes against Houthi positions. The Houthis claimed to have launched drones at a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, though American forces intercepted the attack.
Witkoff has warned that Hamas should take note of these developments, suggesting that further military escalation in the region could have consequences for the group.
Domestic political factors in Israel also play a role in the renewed hostilities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently announced plans to remove his domestic security chief, citing a loss of trust. This marks the third senior security official to leave office in recent weeks, fueling speculation that Netanyahu’s government may be using military escalation to divert attention from ongoing legal and political challenges.
Hamas has accused Israel of abandoning the ceasefire agreement and warned that the remaining hostages face an uncertain fate. However, the group has not officially declared a return to full-scale war, instead calling for renewed international mediation.
With diplomatic efforts at a standstill, the suffering continues for both the hostages still held in Hamas tunnels and the Palestinian civilians enduring relentless bombardment. The international community faces the daunting challenge of bridging a seemingly unbridgeable gap, while the human toll continues to rise in a conflict where neither side appears willing to compromise on its core demands.
