Israel Resumes Gaza Strip Fighting... 800 Casualties on First Day After Ceasefire Ends

Fate of Hostages Held by Hamas Uncertain Amid Resumption of Fighting

On the 1st (local time), just one day after the temporary ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas ended, over 800 casualties were reported. With the ceasefire over and fighting resumed, the fate of hostages held by Hamas has also become uncertain.

On the 1st (local time), smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. Israel resumed fighting after seven days of a temporary ceasefire, accusing the Palestinian armed faction Hamas of violating the truce. / Photo by Yonhap News

The Gaza Strip Health Ministry, affiliated with Hamas, reported that with the resumption of fighting following the end of the ceasefire, there were 178 deaths and 589 injuries in Palestinian territories, totaling 767 casualties. The majority of the injured are women and minors. Among the deceased were reportedly five Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

The Israeli military announced that it resumed combat in the Gaza Strip immediately after 7 a.m. on the day the seven-day ceasefire ended. They stated, "The army, navy, and air force attacked terrorist targets in the northern and southern Gaza Strip." In a text message sent to Gaza residents, the Israeli military warned, "We will begin overwhelming military attacks in your residential areas to eliminate the Hamas terrorist organization," and urged, "Stay away from all military activities."

Hamas fighters were also ordered to resume fighting and defend the Gaza Strip. Consequently, rocket attacks toward Israel continued from Gaza, and one van was destroyed. Israeli authorities reinstated security measures such as school closures. Air raid sirens sounded in various Israeli towns surrounding the Gaza Strip.

Hezbollah, the pro-Iran armed group in southern Lebanon, also reported that three people, including one fighter, were killed due to Israeli bombings. Prior to this, Hezbollah resumed drone attacks toward the northern border area of Israel following news of the ceasefire’s end.

With the resumption of fighting, the prospects for the release of hostages held by Hamas have become uncertain. According to the Israeli military, 105 hostages were released during the past seven days, but 136 remain in captivity.

The international community has not given up on the possibility of extending the ceasefire and continues mediation efforts. The U.S. National Security Council (NSC) stated, "We continue to cooperate with Israel, Egypt, and Qatar to extend the humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, visiting Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said, "We are doing our utmost to secure the release of all hostages," adding, "This includes advancing the process that has been working over the past seven days. This effort is ongoing every hour."

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized, "Mediation efforts to resume the ceasefire are ongoing," and stated, "The bombings on the Gaza Strip after the ceasefire ended complicate these mediation efforts and worsen the humanitarian disaster."