Israel-Gaza latest: International outrage after Hamas says 404 people killed by Israel as ceasefire collapses
Israeli military says its offensive will continue ‘for as long as necessary’ and expand beyond airstrikes
Israel has killed more than 400 Palestinians in a renewed onslaught in the Gaza Strip, according to local health officials, sparking international outrage as a fragile two-month ceasefire comes to a catastrophic end.
After the deadliest wave of airstrikes since a ceasefire deal was reached in mid-January, Israel has vowed its offensive will “expand beyond” the strikes. Thousands of Palestinians living near the Israeli border were ordered to evacuate, in an apparent sign that Israel may resume the ground invasion which ravaged the enclave.
Gaza's Health Ministry says at least 263 of those confirmed dead were women or children. A UNICEF worker recalled seeing the bodies of “several dozen” children after the strikes.
Several high-ranking officials, including prime minister Issam al-Daalis, are also among the dead, according to Hamas-run authorities in Gaza.
France joined several countries including Norway, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia in condemning the strikes.
UN figures also criticised the Israeli attacks. Secretary general Antonio Guterres said he was “shocked” by the strikes, while human rights chief Volker Turk said he was “horrified” by Israel’s actions which will “heap further misery” on the Palestinians.
Meanwhile, the US ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, said responsibility for the resumed attacks lies solely on Hamas.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes after weeks of unsuccessful attempts to negotiate an extension of the ceasefire deal reached on 19 January.
Rafah border crossing closed, says EU spokesperson
The border crossing at Rafah, in the southern Gaza strip, has been closed according to an EU spokesperson.
An EU mission in the area is putting in place emergency procedures, after it had restarted monitoring of the border crossing in early February.
The crossing was previously closed in May 2024, when Israel seized the entire Palestinian side of the border with Egypt.
‘Tragic day for Palestinians,’ UK foreign affairs committee
The head of the UK’s foreign affairs committee has described the killing of hundreds of Gazans as a tragedy and a “backwards step”.
After the deadliest wave of airstrikes since January’s ceasefire agreement, Dame Emily Thornberry condemned the killings and the “new scenes of destruction”.
“Last night’s attack targeted a population already on their knees and places Israeli and other hostages at further risk,” Dame Emily said.
She added: “The recently-brokered ceasefire deal offered hope to both Gazans and Israelis, many of whom are desperate for peace and for a lasting solution to the violence that has blighted the whole region for generations.
“This is a backwards step and a tragic day for Palestinians.”
Qatar and Saudi Arabia condemn resumed airstrikes
Qatar, one of the key mediators between Israel and Hamas, has condemned Israel’s strikes on Gaza and called for resumed talks between both parties.
Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said on Tuesday it denounces "in the strongest terms" Israel resuming strikes on Gaza, and called on the international community to step in to stop what it described as crimes against the Palestinians.
Palestinian health authorities say Israeli airstrikes killed more than 400 people, threatening the complete collapse of a two-month ceasefire as Israel vowed to use more force to free hostages held by Hamas.
In bombing Gaza, Netanyahu has chosen domestic politics over hostages
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, families in Gaza were shaken awake by the return of ferocious bombardment from the air and land. The tense calm of a fragile ceasefire - brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt and in place since January - had been shattered.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the renewed offensive, vowing that Israel will “from now on act against Hamas with increasing military strength”, blaming Hamas for its “repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all of the proposals”.
It comes just two weeks after he ordered Israel to cut off all food, medicine, fuel, electricity, and other supplies to Gaza’s two million people to try and put pressure on Hamas to accept a new deal.
Mr Netanyahu has seemingly refused to bow to pressure from the families of the hostages to continue the truce and bring their loved ones home.
Chief international correspondent Bel Trew reports:
In bombing Gaza, Netanyahu has chosen domestic politics over hostages
Far-right Ben-Gvir rejoins Israeli government after Gaza attacks resume
Far-right Israeli politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was formerly the national security minister, is set to rejoin the coalition.
Ben-Gvir, who openly exports expelling Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, left the coalition of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in opposition to the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
He will rejoin the coalition after Israel resumed strikes on the enclave - and as it appears to prepare for a resumed ground invasion of the ravaged strip.
Ben-Gvir's return will strengthen Netanyahu's government after it was left with only a thin parliamentary majority following his departure in January.
Why has Israel launched dozens of strikes on Gaza – and what happens now over the ceasefire?
Israel’s military has launched dozens of strikes on targets across the Gaza Strip, shattering a ceasefire with Hamas.
Health officials in the Hamas-run strip said more than 400 Palestinians have been killed in the strikes, which hit densely populated areas. In Rafah, in southern Gaza, 17 members of a single family were killed, including women and children.
The Israeli military said in a statement: “This preemptive offensive will continue as long as necessary, and will expand beyond air strikes.”
Rachel Clun covers what we know about the strikes, and what could happen next.
Why has Israel launched strikes on Gaza – and what happens now over the ceasefire?
At least four senior officials killed in Gaza strikes
The Hamas-run government media office has said at least four senior officials have been killed in Israel’s overnight strikes.
They include two top police officers, the office said.
Issam al-Daalis, head of the government administrative committee, Maj Gen Mohamed Abu Watfa, undersecretary of the Interior Ministry, Maj Gen Bahgat Abu Sultan, director of the domestic security agency and Ahmed al-Hetta, undersecretary of the Justice Ministry, were all killed in the strikes, the office added.
In pictures: Ravaged Gaza strip endures more death and destruction
Houthis: We are at war with the US
Yemen’s Houthi rebel group has said it is “at war with the US” and vowed not to "dial down" their action against Israeli shipping in the Red Sea.
The comments, made to Reuters news agency by the group’s foreign minister Jaml Amer, came after the US launched a wave of strikes in parts of Yemen controlled by the Iran-aligned Houthis, who said they would resume attacks on Red Sea shipping to support Palestinians in Gaza.
"There will be no talk of any dialling down of operations before ending the aid blockade in Gaza. Iran is not interfering in our decision but what is happening is that it mediates sometimes but it cannot dictate things," Mr Amer said, in his first comments on the issue to a foreign news agency.
Multiple countries condemn Israeli strikes on Gaza
Norway and Egypt are among a handful of countries which have condemned Israel’s heavy attack on Gaza overnight.
“For the people in Gaza, this is a great tragedy, Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Store told public broadcaster NRK. “They are almost without protection. Many of them live in tents and the ruins of what has been destroyed.”
Egypt called on all parties to exercise restraint and give mediators the chance to push for a permanent ceasefire, as it condemned the Israeli strikes.
The Turkish foreign ministry said the attacks showed Israel had moved to a “new phase in genocide policy”. Urging the international community to take a strong stance, Ankara said it was unacceptable for Israel to cause a "new cycle of violence" in the region, adding the Israeli government's "hostile approach" threatened the future of the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Moscow said it was concerned by the “major civilian casualties” following last night’s attacks.
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