Israel Again Attacks Gaza Strip, United States Blames Hamas

Ambassador Dorothy Shea. (Source: it.usembassy.gov)

JAKARTA - The US Ambassador to the United Nations said the Hamas militant group was responsible for the re-emergence of the war in the Gaza Strip, saying the US was supporting Israel in its next steps.

Ambassador Dorothy Shea made the remarks at a UN Security Council briefing, after Palestinian health authorities said Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza and killed more than 400 people, ending relatively calm weeks after talks to secure a permanent ceasefire stalled.

"The blame for the resumption of hostilities is entirely in Hamas' hands," Shea said, accusing the group of rejecting any proposals and deadlines for extending the ceasefire, and giving time to negotiate a framework for a permanent ceasefire.

Israeli airstrikes that hit Gaza on Tuesday killed more than 400 people, Palestinian health authorities said, in an attack that ended weeks of calm after talks to secure a permanent ceasefire stalled.

Airstrikes hit homes and tent camps from north to south of the Gaza Strip and Israeli tanks opened fire on the border lines to the east and south of the enclave.

The attack was much broader on the scale than the usual drone strike Israel said had recently carried out against militant suspects, and followed weeks-long failed attempts to approve an extension of the ceasefire agreed on January 19.

Gaza's medical sources said most of the victims of Israeli attacks were children and women, being taken to hospitals in the Gaza Strip since dawn on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, 660 others were injured in a series of airstrikes and fire belts carried out by Israeli aircraft. Some of the victims are still buried by the rubble.

Israel continued their aggression in the Gaza Strip at dawn, after more than two months of pause, launching a series of intensive airstrikes and belts in several areas of the Gaza Strip.

Shea said US President Donald Trump had explained that Hamas must immediately release the hostages he detained or pay an expensive price.

"We support Israel in the next step," he said, rejecting allegations by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a blind attack.

"IDF attacks Hamas' position," he said.

"It is well known that Hamas continues to use civilian infrastructure as a launch pad, and the United States condemns this practice as should be done by other parties," he said.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed the resumption of the war in the Gaza Strip, and its coverage will be gradually expanded in the coming hours.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had told the military to take "hard action" against Hamas in response to the group's refusal to release the remaining hostages and because of their rejection of the ceasefire proposal.

Hamas itself is estimated to still have 59 of the approximately 250 hostages arrested in its offensive on October 7, 2023 in Israel, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire and endangering mediatorial efforts to secure a permanent ceasefire.