Moreover, since this recent flareup began, Israel has considerably intensified its military retaliation. It comes following a wave of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza that have killed at least 26 people, including several children. As negotiations continue to stall, fresh accusations have flared up between Hamas and Israel over breaches in their ceasefire deal. This ceasefire, implemented on October 10, was a welcome end to two years of warfare.
Hamas’s armed wing has confirmed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement in light of the recent escalation in violence. The delegation insisted that it knows nothing about the ongoing violence in Rafah. They communicated that they have not been in communication with connected organizations in and around the district since March. The Lebanese ally of Hamas, Hezbollah, is a major actor in this new regional dynamic, adding uncertainty and danger to the mix.
Israeli leaders see Hamas’s actions as egregious violations of the ceasefire, and point to increased military activity. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed a military response after Hamas reportedly crossed the ceasefire line. The scenario quickly turned contentious. In this case, a visible militant group fired an RPG-style anti-tank missile at advancing Israeli troops, hit them, and fortunately but tragically killed two unprotected troops. In response, Israel conducted a wave of airstrikes on sites linked to Hamas.
One of the more high-profile attacks struck an abandoned school in Nuseirat housing displaced civilians. This incident has attracted an unusual level of scrutiny. It lays bare the humanitarian costs of military retaliation in the Gaza Strip, areas governed by Hamas. These airstrikes have killed scores of civilians. In response to this alarming state of affairs, the international community has expressed growing concern over the hostilities and their impact on civilians.
The ongoing situation at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is similarly fraught. Israel responded by declaring that the crossing would remain closed until Hamas met its requirements under the ceasefire agreement. Whether this vital passage reopens hinges on Hamas’s actions. This double-edged sword only exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe for civilians caught in the crossfire of the continuing war.
Throughout this chaos, allegations of ceasefire violations have continued to fly from both sides. Israel has slammed Hamas for its alleged refusal to expedite the return of the deceased hostages’ bodies. This latest misadventure only serves to deepen the mistrust between Capitol Hill and the Administration. When the ceasefire collapsed in mid-March, it was a serious turning point. It broke a stretch of almost two months of extraordinary quiet.
