Israel shattered its ceasefire with Hamas by launching a barrage of deadly airstrikes overnight Tuesday that killed hundreds of Palestinians across the Gaza Strip — and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that “this is just the beginning.”
More than 400 people were killed and hundreds more injured, according to health officials in the Hamas-run enclave. Video captured by an NBC News crew at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis showed charred tent camps and bloodied bodies, including those of young children.
On Wednesday, the Israeli military said it had launched a "targeted ground operation" in central and southern Gaza to build a partial buffer between the northern and southern parts of the enclave.
Why, after nearly two months of relative peace in the enclave, did Israel break the fragile truce and what does it mean for the future of the ceasefire?
Why did the ceasefire break down?
Both Israel and the Trump administration have blamed Hamas for the resumption of hostilities, citing the militant group's refusal to meet Israel's demand to release more hostages in return for the resumption of talks.
But this was not part of the original ceasefire agreement that went into effect Jan. 19. The first phase of that deal, which had Hamas release 25 living hostages and the bodies of eight in exchange for around 1,800 of Palestinian prisoners, ended March 1.
The second phase was set to kick in 16 days later and would have included the exchange of all the remaining hostages and the establishment of a permanent ceasefire. In phase three, the bodies of all dead hostages were to be returned and a commitment made to rebuild Gaza.
But the second phase never began after Netanyahu said he had accepted a plan by Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, to extend the ceasefire for 50 days to discuss phase two — a proposal that was immediately rejected by Hamas. Following Hamas' rejection, Israel blocked the flow of aid and goods into Gaza in a move condemned by rights groups.
Israel's military called Tuesday’s strikes “pre-emptive” and suggested without providing any evidence that Hamas was attempting to rearm.
Pressure at home
Since the start of the war, Netanyahu has faced significant and conflicting pressures from various parties inside Israel, while drawing widespread international criticism for the Israeli military's conduct and the mounting death toll in Gaza.
Families of hostages taken during Hamas' terror attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, have long called for a deal that would see the release of their loved ones. Around 250 people were taken captive that day and 1,200 killed, according to Israeli tallies. More than 48,000 people have died in Gaza in the Israeli military campaign since then, according to health officials in the enclave.
But far-right members of the Israeli government, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have threatened to quit if Israel moves to the second phase of the deal, while calling for the total annihilation of Hamas.
Were that to happen, it would most likely bring about early elections, and Netanyahu, who is currently on trial over graft allegations, could be pushed out of power.
On Tuesday, he appeared to side with far-right members of his government who have been vocal in demanding a resumption of the war.“From now on, Israel will act against the militant group with increasing intensity,” he said, adding that negotiations to end the fighting would from now on “only take place under fire.”
Almost immediately, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who resigned as minister for national security over his opposition to the ceasefire deal, rejoined the coalition along with his Otzma Yehudit party.
Ending the war would also mean Netanyahu having to sacrifice at least one or two of his three war objectives in Gaza: securing the return of the hostages held by Hamas, eliminating the group's military and governmental abilities, and removing the threat of possible future attacks.
While Netanyahu has been repeatedly criticized by the United Nations, the European Union and individual states about Israel’s military campaign, he does retain the support of Israel's main ally, the United States, especially under the Trump administration.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News that Israel had consulted the Trump administration before launching Tuesday’s strikes. And in a statement to the United Nations Security Council, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Dorothy Shea, said that the resumption of hostilities in Gaza lay solely with Hamas and that the U.S. supported Israel in its next steps. Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv think tank, said he believed Israel was attempting to push Hamas to the “decision phase”with the latest strikes. With Trump in power, “Israel is very well coordinated with the American administration,” he said.
What happens now?
Netanyahu has maintained that any negotiations going forward will unfold amid an assault in Gaza. The Israeli military said Wednesday morning that it had continued strikes overnight.
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim told NBC News on Wednesday that the group was still “committed to the agreement we signed, which must end with a ceasefire and a complete withdrawal” of Israeli forces. He said Hamas was committed to engaging in any negotiations toward that goal.
As it stands, a resumption of the ceasefire would appear to require concessions on one side or both. At the moment, neither appears willing to back down.
