Israel strikes Gaza: What happened to the ceasefire?
Israel eliminates head of Hamas' govt.
Israel eliminated Hamas' head of government in a surprise airstrike attack. IDF said in a statement: "Essam al-Da'alis was eliminated. In his role, al-Da'alis served as the Head of the Hamas Government and the most senior figure of authority in Gaza and was responsible for the functioning of Hamas' terror regime in Gaza. He also oversaw the integration of all of Hamas’ branches in Gaza and their use for terrorist purposes. Dozens of terrorist targets were struck to hinder Hamas’ governmental and military capabilities and to remove threats to Israel, including numerous mid-level and senior-ranking terrorists in Hamas' Political Bureau who were eliminated."
After weeks of stalled negotiations, Israel launched its most intense wave of airstrikes on Gaza since the January ceasefire, killing more than 400 people, according to Palestinian medical officials. The Israeli government says the military operation is open-ended and expected to expand, raising fears that the 17-month-old war may fully reignite.
Hamas immediately condemned the attack, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of violating the ceasefire agreement and jeopardizing hostage negotiations. In a statement, Hamas warned that the Israeli strikes "exposed the remaining hostages to an unknown fate" and called on mediators to intervene.
The escalation threatens to unravel months of diplomatic efforts and could trigger wider instability across the region.
How did the ceasefire collapse?
The backstory:
The ceasefire agreement, brokered by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, was structured as a three-phase plan aimed at securing the release of hostages and gradually ending the war.
The first phase, which ended two weeks ago, saw Hamas return 25 living hostages and the remains of eight others in exchange for nearly 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. Hundreds of aid trucks entered Gaza daily, and Israeli forces withdrew to buffer zones as displaced Palestinians returned to northern Gaza.
Tensions escalated when Israel cut off all aid, food, and medical supplies in an effort to pressure Hamas into accepting a new deal. The revised proposal called for Hamas to release half its remaining hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire extension, but did not include additional Palestinian prisoner releases—a key element of the original agreement.
FILE - A man cries because his home was bombed during Israeli air raids in the southern Gaza Strip on October 16, 2023 in Khan Yunis, Gaza. (Photo by Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images)
Hamas rejected the new plan, accusing Israel of attempting to rewrite the terms of the ceasefire. With negotiations at a standstill, Netanyahu ordered the military to launch fresh strikes, marking a major shift back toward conflict.
Is the war officially resuming?
What's next:
Netanyahu has repeatedly threatened to resume the war if Hamas did not comply with Israeli demands. Following the airstrikes, he vowed that Israel "will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength."
Hamas, in turn, warned that the Israeli attacks have undermined the possibility of further hostage releases, raising concerns that remaining captives may be used as leverage in a prolonged conflict.
The White House has expressed support for Israel’s actions, signaling that the U.S. was consulted before the strikes. However, international mediators are now rushing to prevent a full-scale return to war.
How does this impact Netanyahu politically?
The other side:
Inside Israel, Netanyahu is facing growing political pressure over his handling of the war and the hostage crisis.
Families of hostages still held in Gaza have demanded answers, accusing the government of "deliberately dismantling the process to bring their loved ones home."
At the same time, far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition have pushed for a more aggressive military approach. The Jewish Power party, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, rejoined Netanyahu’s government after the strikes, having previously quit over the ceasefire.
Netanyahu also faces an end-of-the-month deadline to pass a budget, or his government could collapse, triggering early elections. Critics allege his decision to fire key security officials is part of an attempt to maintain political control amid ongoing corruption trials and public scrutiny.
Could the conflict expand beyond Gaza?
Big picture view:
Israel’s renewed offensive in Gaza risks sparking wider conflicts across the region. Hezbollah in Lebanon warned that further Israeli aggression could violate its November ceasefire, while Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels vowed retaliation.
Over the weekend, the U.S. launched airstrikes on Houthi targets after attacks on international shipping.
President Donald Trump warned Iran against further involvement, escalating concerns that fragile ceasefires across the region could unravel.
The Source: This report is based on The Associated Press, detailing the latest Israeli airstrikes, ceasefire negotiations, Hamas’ response, and regional security concerns.