Following a deadly Israeli massacre on Tuesday that killed dozens of children, Tel Aviv said it was resuming the ceasefire in Gaza. Hours later, Israel bombed Gaza.
On Tuesday, Israel declared that Hamas had violated the ceasefire by attacking the IDF and Rafah, and only returning the partial remains of an Israeli hostage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by ordering a “powerful” strike on Gaza.
The Israeli strikes on Gaza killed over 100 people, including 46 children. Tel Aviv claimed the attack killed 25 terrorists. Israel then declared the ceasefire was back in force.
However, the bombing resumed shortly after. Wednesday night into Thursday, Israeli strikes hit targets in Khan Younis and Northern Gaza. Two people were killed in Northern Gaza.
Even if the ceasefire holds, as Israel repeatedly violates it, there are outstanding issues that could prevent the war from coming to a close. Tel Aviv has reduced aid deliveries into Gaza to a small fraction of what was agreed to under President Donald Trump’s framework.
Additionally, the two sides remained at odds over Hamas’s disarmament. Qatar says that Hamas is willing to give up governing Gaza, but will not disarm. Hamas’s position is popular among Palestinians.
A new poll of people in Gaza and the West Bank found 69% of Palestinians do not want Hamas to disarm. More Palestinians in the West Bank rejected disarming Hamas, 78%, compared to 55% of Gazans.
