Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 356 Palestinians, including many children, in a massive violation of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The death toll continues to rise as countless others remain trapped under the rubble of bombed-out buildings.  

The strikes targeted homes, schools, and refugee centres across Gaza, with at least 77 killed in Khan Younis in the south and 20 in Gaza City in the north. Hundreds more have been injured, according to the Palestinian news agency Sama. The attacks spared no part of the besieged coastal enclave, already devastated by years of war and blockade.  

The ceasefire, brokered with Hamas, has been repeatedly violated by Israel, which has also blocked vital aid, including food, medicine, and water, in an attempt to pressure the group into releasing remaining Israeli captives. Under the initial phase of the agreement, Hamas released 25 living captives and the remains of eight others in exchange for over 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, Israel has since sabotaged the deal, demanding further concessions.  

The Hamas movement has condemned the attacks, holding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government fully responsible for the “genocidal war” against defenceless civilians. “Netanyahu has exposed the captives to an unknown fate,” Hamas stated, noting that many have already died due to relentless Israeli bombing.  

The group has called on Arab nations, international organisations, and the United Nations to take a firm stance against Israel’s aggression. It also urged global protests to reject the resumption of what it described as a “Zionist war of extermination” against the Palestinian people.  

Meanwhile, mediators from Qatar and Egypt are working to salvage the ceasefire, though their efforts are being undermined by Israel’s actions. With over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, killed since the start of the war, Gaza remains on the brink of catastrophe.  

As Netanyahu faces internal crises, his decision to resume the war appears to be a desperate attempt to cling to power. But for the people of Gaza, each airstrike deepens the tragedy of a conflict with no end in sight.