Gaza Under Fire: 153 Tons of Bombs in a Single Night Redefine the Conflict Landscape

During the opening session of the Israeli Knesset's winter term on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel dropped 153 tons of bombs on various parts of the Gaza Strip on Sunday night. This severe escalation came after two Israeli soldiers were killed in clashes with Hamas in the city of Rafah, southern Gaza. Following a wave of intense airstrikes and allegations that Hamas breached the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli army declared the resumption of its military operations.

The announcement highlights the extraordinary intensity of the recent strikes on Gaza, illustrating just how devastating the attacks were in such a short timeframe and raising vital humanitarian and political questions. The conflict continues amid persistent regional tension and faltering international efforts to restore ceasefire agreements and contain the crisis.

Locally and globally, reactions range from condemnation to calls for de-escalation, while civilians in Gaza remain at great risk under ongoing bombardment that threatens their lives and livelihoods. Given these circumstances, appeals persist for a political solution to end the cycle of violence and offer hope for the Palestinian people.