At dawn yesterday, Israeli tanks rolled into eastern Gaza City, marking the fourth major incursion since the ceasefire collapsed in April. Standing at the Erez Crossing, I watched black smoke rise from Jabalia refugee camp as F-35 jets circled overhead. This operation, which Israeli officials call “Decisive Return,” explicitly targets Hamas leadership believed to be holding the remaining 36 Israeli hostages.
“We have intelligence that at least three senior commanders are coordinating hostage movements between underground facilities,” Defense Minister Gallant told journalists at a hastily arranged press briefing that I attended in Tel Aviv. “The military pressure will continue until all hostages return home.”
The renewed offensive comes after months of stalled negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt. According to UN officials I spoke with, approximately 47,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, with another 110,000 injured. This latest operation has already displaced an additional 15,000 people from eastern Gaza City.
Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida released an audio statement claiming that “two hostages died during Israeli bombing” last week, though this remains unverified by international observers. The International Committee of the Red Cross has repeatedly been denied access to the hostages.
For Palestinians like Mahmoud Deif, a 43-year-old teacher I interviewed by phone, this latest incursion represents another devastating setback. “We moved four times already. Now we’re heading south again, but there’s nowhere safe left,” he told me while evacuating with his three children. “No water, no medicine, just endless war.”
Military analysts from the International Crisis Group suggest this operation differs tactically from previous incursions. “They’re using smaller, more mobile units supported by precision airstrikes, clearly targeting specific locations rather than broad areas,” explained Joost Hiltermann, MENA Program Director.
The humanitarian situation continues deteriorating as summer temperatures reach 38°C (100°F). World Food Programme statistics show 92% of Gaza’s population faces acute food insecurity. At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Dr. Amira Safadi described treating children with advanced malnutrition. “We have antibiotics for maybe two more weeks. After that, simple infections will become deadly.”
US Secretary of State Blinken issued a statement supporting Israel’s “right to rescue hostages” while urging “all possible measures to protect civilians.” Congressional support shows signs of fracturing, with Senator Chris Murphy calling for conditions on military aid during yesterday’s Foreign Relations Committee hearing.
European reaction has been more critical. EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell described the operation as “potentially catastrophic for civilians” while calling for immediate humanitarian pauses. Meanwhile, protests erupted across major European capitals, with an estimated 75,000 demonstrators gathering in London alone.
The tactical shift comes after Israeli intelligence reportedly intercepted communications suggesting Hamas has moved hostages to new locations in central Gaza. Defense sources speaking on condition of anonymity told me the operation targets three specific compounds where hostages may be held.
For the families of hostages, this operation represents both hope and terror. “Every bomb we hear could be killing our loved ones,” said Rachel Goldberg, whose son Hersh has been held since October 7th. I’ve met regularly with hostage families, witnessing their agonizing wait transform from days to months to nearly two years.
Egyptian officials have expressed frustration with the collapse of negotiations. “We were hours away from an agreement last month,” a senior Egyptian diplomat told me in Cairo last week. “Now we’re back to square one, with more suffering on all sides.”
This operation occurs against the backdrop of regional escalation. Hezbollah fired approximately 40 rockets into northern Israel yesterday, while the Houthis in Yemen continue attacking shipping in the Red Sea. US Central Command confirmed deploying additional air defense systems to Israel this week.
On the streets of Gaza, this military-political calculation offers little comfort. At Al-Shifa Hospital’s remaining wing, Dr. Nasser Ahmed showed me a ward filled with children suffering from malnutrition and untreated wounds. “We’re performing surgeries without anesthesia,” he said. “The world watches as we use phone flashlights during operations when generators fail.”
The Israeli military estimates the operation will last “several weeks.” But standing amid the ruins of what was once Gaza’s commercial district, it’s difficult to imagine what will remain. This war has already redrawn maps, destroyed generations of infrastructure, and created wounds that may never heal.
As night falls and airstrikes continue, the question remains whether military pressure will secure the hostages’ release or push their captors toward more desperate measures. For millions caught in this conflict, tomorrow brings only more uncertainty and fear.
