Escalation in Gaza: Israeli Airstrikes Claim Over 200 Lives Amid Failed Ceasefire Negotiations
In a dramatic escalation of violence, the Israeli army executed a significant bombing campaign across various regions of the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of over 200 Palestinian individuals, according to preliminary reports from the Health Ministry of Gaza. This surge in hostilities marks the most extensive Israeli offensive since the ceasefire agreement with Hamas commenced on January 19.
The bombings were primarily focused on the urban centers of Gaza, Rafah, and Khan Yunis. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that this operation was initiated in response to Hamas's ongoing refusal to release captives and aceptar the US-backed proposal for extending the initial ceasefire.
The original phase of the ceasefire involved halting hostilities, with Hamas agreeing to release some of the approximately 200 individuals taken hostage during the attack on October 7, 2023, while Israel released a number of Palestinian detainees in return. However, this first phase ended on March 2, and there appears to be no movement towards discussions for a subsequent phase that would involve negotiating a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a cessation of attacks.
Israel has instead proposed a mere extension of the current ceasefire framework, backed by Donald Trump's administration. The Witkoff plan, named after Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, would allow for a temporary ceasefire extension, contingent upon Hamas freeing half of the hostages, despite no guarantees for a permanent resolution to the conflict. As of now, Hamas is reported to hold 59 hostages, with 35 believed to be deceased.
This proposal has been met with staunch resistance from Hamas, which labels it as unfavorable. The Israeli government, wary of negotiating a second phase that would necessitate a complete withdrawal from the territory, seems intent on maintaining military leverage in the Strip, where it retains control over certain buffer zones.
In retaliation for Hamas's rejection of the ceasefire extension, Israel took drastic measures on March 2 by severing all access to goods and humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. This blockade was further aggravated by directives to the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) to cease electricity supplies to Gaza, a move aimed at pressuring Hamas into compliance with the demands set forth in the negotiations.
As the situation in Gaza worsens and civilian casualties rise, the international community watches with increasing concern, as the dire humanitarian crisis deepens amid this ongoing conflict.
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