SRINAGAR: At least 330 people were killed in Gaza on Tuesday as Israeli forces launched large-scale airstrikes on Hamas targets, marking the deadliest assault since the January 19 ceasefire. Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that most casualties were children, women, and the elderly, with around 150 others injured.
As per media reports, the strikes hit multiple locations, including northern Gaza, Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, and Rafah. Among those killed was Mahmud Abu Watfa, head of Hamas’s police and internal security.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the strikes were in response to Hamas’s refusal to release hostages and its rejection of ceasefire proposals from US envoy Steve Witkoff and other mediators. The Israeli military stated that operations would intensify to achieve the war’s objectives, including securing the release of all hostages.
Hamas accused Netanyahu of sacrificing hostages for political survival, blaming Israel for violating the ceasefire and endangering prisoners in Gaza.
Ceasefire Talks Collapse
The truce negotiations faltered as Israel sought to extend the first phase of the ceasefire, while Hamas insisted on moving to the second phase, set for March 2, which included further hostage releases. Hamas had offered to free American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander and four hostage bodies if talks progressed, but Israel dismissed it as psychological warfare.
Under the initial phase, Hamas had released 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais in exchange for 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. The group still holds about 59 hostages.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a cross-border raid, killing about 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages. Israel’s military response has since killed over 48,000 Palestinians and injured more than 112,000, according to reports.
