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Smoke billows over the Palestinian territory during an Israeli bombardment on Saturday [Jack Guez/AFP]
In an intense turn of events, Israel’s military unleashed a barrage of more than 400 strikes on Gaza within the initial 24 hours following the breakdown of a fragile truce with Hamas last Friday. The situation escalated rapidly, resulting in a tragic toll on human lives, with Hamas authorities reporting 178 casualties.
Despite the grim developments, negotiations between the two parties persisted through intermediaries, focusing on the potential release of hostages from Gaza—a move that could potentially halt hostilities once again. This unexpected twist occurred in the aftermath of a week-long truce that had offered a glimmer of hope for de-escalation.
Israel, previously concentrating its military operations in northern Gaza, expanded its offensive to the southern region, signaling a heightened intensity in the conflict. The resurgence of violence has plunged civilians back into what the head of the International Red Cross referred to as “the nightmare.”
As the world watches the renewed clashes unfold, the repercussions of this latest bout of violence raise pressing questions about the feasibility of a lasting resolution and the toll it will take on the civilian population caught in the crossfire.
SKJ