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At least 13 people have reportedly been killed in air strikes across Gaza overnight, after Israel said it was resuming combat operations in the Palestinian territory.<\/p>\n
Two civilians were killed and five others injured when an Israeli drone hit a tent near the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reports, citing Red Crescent medics.<\/p>\n
Israel’s army said it had targeted what it called a Hamas military site from where the group was preparing to fire into Israel. Vessels controlled by Hamas were also hit, the army said.<\/p>\n
It comes after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said fighting would resume “in full force”, adding: “This is just the beginning.”<\/p>\n
The bombing is not of the same scale as it was on Tuesday, when the Hamas-run health ministry says more than 400 people were killed – but it shows no let-up in Israel’s fresh assault.<\/p>\n
Tuesday’s strikes were the heaviest since a fragile ceasefire and hostage exchange deal came into effect on 19 January, and came after Israel and Hamas failed to agree how to take it beyond an initial phase.<\/p>\n
The deal involves three stages, and negotiations on the second stage were meant to have started six weeks ago – but this did not happen.<\/p>\n
Under the proposed second phase, Israel would withdraw troops from Gaza – but Israel and the US instead pushed for an extension of the first phase, with more hostages being released in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu cast the resumption of fighting as a return to Israel’s primary aims – to return the hostages and “get rid” of Hamas – but families of hostages have criticised the decision, saying it showed the government had given up on their loved ones.<\/p>\n
Israel says Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.<\/p>\n
Egypt, a mediator in talks, said the fresh strikes were a “blatant” violation of the ceasefire.<\/p>\n
Wafa says a woman and child were killed in an air strike north of Khan Younis overnight into Wednesday, while four others were killed in a strike in Gaza City.<\/p>\n
Gaza’s health ministry has yet to give a death toll for the latest strikes.<\/p>\n
Hamas has confirmed that several of its leaders were killed in Tuesday’s strikes, including its de facto head of government, Essam a-Da’lees.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad – whose fighters participated in the 7 October 2023 attack which triggered the current conflict – said the prominent spokesman of its armed wing, known as Abu Hamza, was killed.<\/p>\n
However, there were also many civilians, including dozens of children, thought to be among the dead.<\/p>\n
Regional mediators are now said to be pushing Hamas to release some of the Israeli hostages it still holds in exchange for a de-escalation.<\/p>\n
But Netanyahu has said that going forward, all ceasefire talks will take place “under fire”.<\/p>\n
The 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel saw about 1,200 people killed and the capturing of 251 hostages – 25 of whom were released alive during the first phase of the ceasefire.<\/p>\n
Israel responded with a massive military offensive, which has killed more than 48,500 Palestinians, the Hamas-run health ministry says, as well as causing large-scale destruction to homes and infrastructure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n