Palestinian health officials report at least 400 casualties as Israeli forces strike multiple locations, reigniting hostilities
Israel’s military has issued evacuation orders for parts of eastern Gaza following a series of intense airstrikes that killed more than 400 people. The attacks, which ended a period of relative calm since mid-January, targeted Hamas leaders and political figures, according to Israeli officials.
The evacuation orders cover Beit Hanoun in the north and areas further south, suggesting an imminent ground offensive. Palestinian health authorities confirmed at least 404 fatalities and over 600 injuries from the strikes, which also hit civilian areas, including schools and residential buildings.
Humanitarian organisations in Gaza described the situation as catastrophic, with thousands of people fleeing their homes. “People have barely recovered from previous attacks and are now being forced to move again,” said a relief worker in Gaza.
The White House confirmed that Israel had consulted the US before executing the strikes. Meanwhile, reports emerged of entire families being wiped out, including 17 relatives killed in Rafah.
Casualties included senior Hamas leaders and government ministers, but many of the victims were women and children. Gaza’s civil defence teams reported being overwhelmed, while hospitals—already severely damaged—struggled to cope with the influx of injured civilians.
Israeli and American officials blamed Hamas for the renewed violence, accusing the group of refusing to release the remaining 59 hostages, thus violating the ceasefire agreement established in January. In response, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that “Gaza will face unprecedented destruction” unless all hostages are freed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office reiterated that Hamas had rejected diplomatic proposals for extending the ceasefire. Meanwhile, internal Israeli politics remain tense, with Netanyahu’s recent decision to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar sparking controversy and planned protests.
The ongoing war has devastated Gaza, leaving more than 48,000 people dead since October 2023 and reducing infrastructure to rubble. Most of the territory’s population is displaced, and critical services such as hospitals and sanitation systems are barely functioning.
