Israel Briefing Day 529: Gaza ceasefire collapsed overnight, as Israel restarts strikes against Hamas targets

3. The White House was informed about the renewed strikes ahead of time and is supportive, spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Fox News. She said: “As President Trump has made it clear — Hamas, the Houthis, Iran, all those who seek to terrorise not just Israel, but also the United States of America, will see a price to pay. All hell will break loose.”

4. Israel is calling the renewed operation “Strength and Sword.” Evacuation orders have been issued for some parts of Gaza, which indicates that the op is about to intensify.

5. The hostage families’ campaign condemned the decision to resume fighting, warning it will put hostages at greater risk. It released a statement saying: “The worst fear has come true: the Israeli government has chosen to abandon the hostages. The Israeli government has chosen to give up on the hostages. We are shocked, outraged, and deeply concerned about the deliberate destruction of the process to bring our loved ones back from Hamas’ horrific captivity. Returning to fighting before the last hostage is brought home will cost the lives of the 59 hostages still in Gaza, who can be rescued and returned. The Israeli government refused to declare the end of the war to implement the next phases of the deal and bring back all the hostages."

It went on to argue: "The claim that returning to war is for the sake of bringing back the hostages is a complete deception—military pressure endangers hostages and soldiers. A return to the ceasefire is essential.” Key points on this developing story:

6. Some context on the renewal of fighting: The outgoing Biden administration and incoming Trump administration negotiated the ceasefire that has held for around two months. It saw Hamas release 33 hostages in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. This was all part of Phase 1 of the deal, while Phase 2 needed new negotiations, which would have required long-term decisions on Gaza’s future and a permanent cessation of war. Israel was not prepared to reach decisions on those topics and wanted instead to extend the first phase of the war. A deadlock followed, and now fighting has restarted.

7. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right politician, played a key role in pushing for the return to fighting. He declared this morning that renewed fighting "will restore long-term security to the residents of the Gaza border communities and all Israeli citizens." Smotrich and others on the right flant of the government have pushed hard for the renewal of fighting. Itamar Ben-Gvir, a rightist who left the government to protest the ceasefire, is widely expected to return, strengthening Netanyahu.

8. Given that pleasing the far-right strengthens Netanyahu politically and makes him more able to face challenges to his own political survival, some of Netanyahu’s opponents are claiming that political motivations are guiding him. Yair Golan, leader of the opposition Democrats party, claimed in a tweet: “The soldiers on the front and the hostages in Gaza are just cards in his survival game. Netanyahu is using the lives of our citizens and soldiers because he is shaking with fear from us…. Therefore, madness must not win. The protest must erupt in fury to save hostages, soldiers, and the State of Israel from the hands of this corrupt and dangerous man. This is our responsibility. This is our duty. And if we do not give up—we will win.”

In other news...

The IDF struck targets in southern Lebanon, killing two Hezbollah operatives accused of coordinating attacks against Israel. In Syria the military reported striking targets “including command centres and military sites containing weapons and military vehicles belonging to the old Syrian Regime,” out of concerns they could be deployed against Israel. On the Egyptian border, IDF soldiers reportedly shot and killed a man who was suspected of smuggling goods into Egypt using a drone.

After Netanyahu’s decision on Sunday to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, a mass protest is being planned for tomorrow. Meanwhile, security officials, opposition leaders, and business groups have condemned the firing. The Israel Business Forum, representing 200 major companies, called the firing “destructive” and reckless during a security crisis. Netanyahu and his supporters say the firing is justified as Bar has lost trust.

Israel has dispatched a medical team to North Macedonia to help with the aftermath of a nightclub fire that killed at least 59 people. The delegation is from Israel’s largest hospital, Sheba Medical Center, and includes burn and orthopaedic specialists. Israel’s non-resident envoy to North Macedonia, Simona Frankel, is joining the five-member team.

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