Gaza Ceasefire Collapses as Deadly Strikes Resume, Aid Deliveries Halted
Deir al Balah, Gaza – A fragile ceasefire unraveled Thursday with a surge in Israeli strikes across Gaza and the suspension of vital aid deliveries, escalating fears for the besieged enclave’s civilian population. The renewed violence comes after the U.S. State Department issued a rare weekend statement warning of “credible reports indicating an imminent ceasefire violation by Hamas against the people of Gaza.”
The strikes, which began Wednesday, have resulted in multiple Palestinian fatalities, including those brought to al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al Balah, according to reporting from the Associated Press. The escalation threatens to plunge Gaza further into humanitarian crisis, halting the limited flow of assistance that had begun reaching civilians amidst the ongoing conflict. The current war began after Hamas-led militants entered southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people, two-thirds of whom were civilians, and taking roughly 250 hostages.
The State Department cautioned that “should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire.” Hamas swiftly dismissed the U.S. allegations as “false,” accusing Israel of supporting “criminal gangs” assaulting palestinian civilians. This accusation appears to reference competing militias vying for control within Gaza, where recent video footage surfaced allegedly showing Hamas operatives executing individuals accused of collaboration.
Former President Trump last week reiterated his demand for Hamas to disarm, warning that failure to do so would leave the U.S. with ”no choice but to go in and kill them” if bloodshed persisted.
Since the start of the conflict, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 68,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry’s figures indicate the majority of those killed are women and children,though it does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties. The suspension of aid deliveries raises concerns about access to essential supplies for the remaining population.
