President Trump gave a green light to Israel’s deadly strikes on Gaza, which shattered the fragile ceasefire in place since January, marking a violent turn in his push for peace in the Middle East.
Trump has long warned the U.S. would “unleash hell” on Hamas if it refused to release the hostages it has held since its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. And his administration quickly sought to blame Hamas for the renewed hostilities.
The surprise attacks enraged critics of Israel’s war in Gaza — with Hamas officials reporting that more than 400 Palestinians were killed — and left the families of hostages urging a return to negotiations.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy called the civilian casualties from Israeli strikes overnight “appalling” and called on Hamas and Israel to “re-engage with negotiations to get hostages out, surge aid, and secure a permanent end” to the conflict.
“Diplomacy, not more bloodshed, is how we get security for Israelis and Palestinians,” Lammy posted to the social platform X.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) then on Wednesday began “targeted ground activities” in central and southern Gaza, partially retaking a key area in the territory known as the Netzarim Corridor. The strip of land separates the northern and southern parts of Gaza.
In its justification for its airstrikes and military ground campaign, Israel has accused Hamas of refusing to release hostages.
Hamas, meanwhile, blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for breaking the truce and putting the hostages “at risk of an unknown fate.”
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
