Israel again attacks Gaza, 44 civilians killed in air strike

New Delhi. Israel’s Air Force has carried out major attacks in Gaza. This is the biggest attack since the ceasefire began on January 17. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, about 44 people have been killed in the air strikes carried out by Israel in the morning. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said, “Israel has resumed military operations against Hamas in Gaza after the group rejected US proposals to extend the ceasefire.”

According to the report, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the attacks due to the lack of progress in ongoing talks to extend the ceasefire. It was not immediately clear whether the operation was a one-time pressure tactic or the 17-month-old war was being restarted.

‘Against innocent people…’
Tahir Nunu, a Hamas official, has criticized the Israeli attacks. He said, “The international community is being put to a moral test, either it allows the return of the crimes committed by the occupation army or it implements its commitment to end the aggression and war against innocent people in Gaza.” Explosions could be heard across Gaza and ambulances were rushing to Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza.”

What happened to the ceasefire?
The latest attacks come two months after a ceasefire was agreed to halt the fighting. Over six weeks, Hamas released about three dozen hostages in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. But since the first phase of the ceasefire ended two weeks ago, the two sides have been unable to agree on how to proceed with the second phase aimed at releasing the nearly 60 remaining hostages and ending the war completely.

Netanyahu has repeatedly threatened to restart the war and earlier this month halted all food and aid deliveries to the besieged region to pressure Hamas.