The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas erupted in violence early Tuesday morning after two months of relative calm, resulting in renewed military actions from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed military operations following Hamas's repeated refusal to release Israeli hostages, stating on a televised address that negotiations would only continue "under fire," signaling a potential escalation in hostilities.

The strikes launched by the IDF resulted in at least 400 Palestinian deaths and over 500 injuries, including children, according to the Ministry of Health operated by Hamas.

The Israeli cabinet defended its decision to resume attacks shortly after midnight, citing Hamas's continued obstinacy regarding hostage negotiations and its dismissal of various proposals presented by U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.

During the recent negotiations, Hamas insisted on adhering to the original terms of the ceasefire agreement, which was due for a second phase earlier in the month.

This phase proposed a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent cessation of hostilities in exchange for the release of remaining hostages.

Although Israel initially agreed to the truce, Netanyahu emphasized that military operations would persist until Hamas's governance and military capabilities were dismantled.

The ceasefire held for approximately two and a half weeks after the conclusion of the first phase, during which mediators worked to negotiate new conditions for an extension.

As Israel resisted maintaining the terms of the second phase, the U.S. envoy’s recent proposal to extend the ceasefire for several weeks—which included the release of five hostages—was deemed unworkable by Hamas.

In response to resumed attacks, the Hamas leadership articulated concerns that the Israeli government's decision to revoke the ceasefire agreement jeopardized the safety of hostages still held captive.

Currently, 59 individuals remain in captivity, a situation that poses a significant challenge for Netanyahu's administration, as families of the hostages have publicly criticized the government's approach.

The IDF's targeted operations reportedly eliminated four senior Hamas officials, including Essam al Dalis, the head of the Hamas government in Gaza, and Ahmed al Hatta, the deputy minister of justice.

Furthermore, other fatalities included Mahmud Abu Wafta, the deputy minister of interior, and Bahjat Abu Sultan, the director general of internal security.

In addition, Mohammed Al Jamasi, a member of Hamas's Political Bureau, was reported killed, although he held no official government position.

Hamas characterized these strikes as acts of war crimes against its leaders and their families.

In light of the escalating conflict, Israeli authorities issued warnings to residents near the Gaza border, advising them to suspend all activities, including closing schools and prohibiting gatherings of more than ten people.

The crossing between Israel and Egypt was also shut down.

Despite these warnings, life continued relatively normally in Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem until the evening.

As the night progressed, the IDF reported that sirens sounded in southern regions, responding to missile launches from Yemen, which were intercepted by Israeli air defense systems.

This escalation coincided with a recent U.S. military operation in Yemen against Houthi forces, indicating possible broader geopolitical ramifications.

Criticism arose both domestically and internationally following the renewed conflict.

Mansour Abbas, a representative from the United Arab List, criticized the war as unproductive, suggesting it would exacerbate animosities.

The European Union called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged Israel to prioritize the release of hostages and to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

In a similar vein, Egypt and Qatar, acting as mediators, condemned Israel for purportedly breaching the ceasefire agreement, with additional support from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the Arab League, all advocating for the respect of the truce.