Netanyahu Warns Gaza Strikes Are 'Only the Beginning'

The strikes, the largest since a ceasefire took effect in January, killed over 400 people across the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Netanyahu, in a video message late Tuesday, declared, "Hamas has already felt the strength of our arm in the past 24 hours. And I want to promise you—and them—this is only the beginning."

Efforts toward a ceasefire have faltered as Israel and Hamas remain at an impasse regarding the next phase of peace negotiations, with the first phase of the ceasefire having expired. Netanyahu's address made it clear that "from now on, negotiations will take place only under fire," adding that continued military pressure is crucial for securing the release of additional hostages.

Israel has maintained its resolve to continue military operations until all hostages, taken by Palestinian militants during the October 2023 attacks, are freed. Despite sporadic bombardment continuing into Tuesday afternoon, witnesses reported a temporary halt to the most intense airstrikes.

One Gaza resident, 43-year-old Jihan Nahhal, described the devastation: "Today I felt that Gaza is a real hell... Suddenly, there were huge explosions, as if it were the first day of the war."

Hamas has not yet responded militarily to the recent strikes but has called for international pressure on the United States to intervene and halt Israel’s offensive. A senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, Hugh Lovatt, stated, "Hamas does not want to be dragged into another war."

According to the White House, Israel consulted with the U.S. prior to launching the strikes, and the return to hostilities was "fully coordinated" with Washington. A State Department spokesperson added that "Hamas bears total responsibility for the resumption of hostilities."

International condemnation has been swift. The United Nations, along with governments from across the globe, voiced strong opposition to the renewed attacks. Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages have pleaded with Netanyahu to end the violence, fearing for their loved ones' safety.

‘Complete Destruction’

Netanyahu’s office clarified that the military operation was a response to Hamas’s refusal to release hostages, and Israel vowed to continue its strikes until Hamas complies. Hamas, in turn, accused Israel of "overturning the ceasefire agreement" brokered by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, warning that such actions would result in a "death sentence" for the remaining hostages.

Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a dire warning: "Hamas must understand that the rules of the game have changed." He threatened to escalate military action until Hamas faces "complete destruction" if it does not release the hostages.

As the strikes continue, casualties are mounting. The Gaza Health Ministry reported 413 deaths, with many more feared to be trapped under rubble. Among the dead were dozens of children, according to UNICEF spokeswoman Rosalia Bollen, who emphasized that the region's already strained medical facilities were now overwhelmed.

Families of Israeli hostages gathered outside Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem, voicing concerns that the resumption of violence could endanger their loved ones' lives. One group warned that the government's actions had led to the "explosion of the ceasefire," which could sacrifice the lives of hostages in the process.

Global Outcry

The renewed fighting has drawn criticism from governments worldwide. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the scenes of burning refugee camps and displaced families "shocking," while urging all parties to avoid using civilians as leverage in negotiations.

Iran, a key Hamas ally, denounced the strikes as a "continuation of the genocide" against Palestinians, while both Russia and China cautioned against further escalation. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi accused Israel of attempting to make Gaza "uninhabitable" and force Palestinians into displacement.

In a controversial proposal, former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested relocating Palestinians out of Gaza, an idea rejected by Palestinians and other governments in the region but supported by some Israeli politicians.

Hours after the strikes resumed, Netanyahu's Likud party announced that a far-right faction, which had quit the government in January over the Gaza ceasefire, would rejoin, further intensifying political tensions.

A New Phase of Conflict

The conflict began in October 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly assault on Israel, killing over 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Israel’s subsequent retaliation in Gaza has resulted in at least 48,577 Palestinian deaths, many of them civilians, according to figures from both sides. Of the 251 Israeli hostages taken during the attack, 58 remain in Gaza, with 34 confirmed dead.

As the hostilities escalate, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a missile at Israel in solidarity with Palestinians, though Israel's military intercepted the attack.

The situation remains dire, with no resolution in sight and growing fears of further regional instability.