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Israel withdrew its negotiating team from Qatar and introduced airstrikes in the Gaza Strip as part of the new phase of its offensive against Hamas after a week-long truce. The Islamist organization said it would continue negotiations for the release of other hostages after the war in Gaza ends. According to Hamas, the new Israeli attacks caused more than 190 casualties.
Israel announced that an airstrike killed a Hamas commander involved in the bloody Oct. 7 attack that sparked the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas’ military wing fired a barrage of rockets at Tel Aviv in reaction to Israel’s continued attacks on the Gaza Strip.
Israeli negotiators will return home, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced. He said the organization had not fulfilled its part of the agreement to release the young men and women hostages. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said 15 women and two young women were still among the hostages held by Hamas. Meanwhile, Hamas has said that as long as Israel does not stop firing on Gaza, there will be no more exchanges.
During last week’s ceasefire, Hamas released hostages and Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel suggests that there are a total of 137 hostages in Gaza.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin insisted on Israel’s need for civilians in Gaza, calling them the “center of gravity” in the war between Israel and the radical Palestinian movement Hamas.
“I have repeatedly made it clear to Israel’s leaders that protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza is both a moral responsibility and a strategic obligation,” he added.
U. S. Vice President Kamala Harris outlined U. S. goals for ending the standoff between Israel and Hamas. Harris under pressure that once the war ends, reconstruction efforts will have to be undertaken “in the context of a transparent political horizon for the other Palestinian people toward a state of their own, led through a renewed Palestinian Authority, and with significant aid. “of the foreign network and of the countries of the region,” he added.
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