The Hamas-Israel ceasefire shattered early Tuesday as Israel resumed widespread strikes across Gaza, which have killed and wounded dozens.
The Israeli military has continued to operate inside Gaza since the start of the ceasefire on January 19, but Tuesday’s airstrikes are the clearest sign that efforts to extend the truce have collapsed.
The first phase of the ceasefire saw multiple hostages released. But it reached its expiration date on March 1 – with Israel and Hamas split on where to go from there.
The weeks since have been filled with thorny negotiations.
A sticking point: Hamas wanted to see a move to the previously agreed phase two of the agreement, which would have seen Israeli troops fully withdraw from Gaza and the release of all living hostages held by Hamas. Israel instead pushed for an extension of phase one, without committing to end the war or withdraw troops.
Last week, the US put forth a new proposal that would secure the release of a handful of living hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a month-long extension of the ceasefire.
Israel would also lift its blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has been ongoing for nearly two weeks, a source familiar with the negotiations told CNN last week.
On Friday, Hamas said it was instead prepared to release American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander and the bodies of four dual nationals held hostage in Gaza.
But Israel alleged that Hamas had rejected the proposal, put forth by US envoy Steve Witkoff without a commitment by Israel for a permanent ceasefire.
It repeated this claim on Tuesday as the strikes began raining down across Gaza, with Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both blaming Hamas’ “refusal to release the hostages” as the trigger for resuming fighting.
“We will not stop fighting until all the hostages return home and all the war’s goals are achieved,” Katz said.
Hamas countered that Israel had overtured the ceasefire agreement, “putting the captives in Gaza at risk of an unknown fate.”
