The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas ended with a volley of rocket attacks on southern Israel and an attempted Hamas ambush in the northern Gaza Strip. The brief pause in hostilities facilitated the successful return of about 100 hostages, including all all but the two young Bibas children and and most mothers, but not Shiri, mother of the red-headed kids, the family reported by Hamas as being dead. Israel has demanded proof of their fate, and the case embittered the situation in recent days. Hamas also failed to deliver a new list of hostages to be released before the deadline.

Israeli leaders have been vocal about their commitment to their citizens’ safety and the nation’s security. The Prime Minister’s Office stated, “Hamas violated the deal” and did not fulfill its obligation to release all female captives. They accused Hamas of launching rockets at Israeli citizens, reaffirming that “with the resumption of the war we will emphasize: the Israeli government is committed to achieving the goals of the war.” These goals include eliminating Hamas and ensuring that Gaza will never again pose a threat to the residents of Israel​​.

In the backdrop of these developments, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Israel brought to light the US’s diplomatic stance on the conflict. Blinken emphasized the necessity of considering humanitarian and civilian protection needs before any military operations in southern Gaza. This approach aligns with the Biden administration’s broader strategy, focusing on protecting civilians who have sought refuge in southern Gaza. Blinken stressed the need to continue the ceasefire pause to facilitate the release of more hostages and deliver additional aid to Gaza​​​​​​.

Despite Blinken’s emphasis on civilian protection, the Israeli government decided to resist US pressure during his visit. Blinken remarked that Israel lacks the “credit” for extended fighting and must not harm civilians. This statement underscores the complex dynamic between the US and Israel, where diplomatic efforts and strategic military objectives sometimes diverge. Israel’s decision reflects its prioritization of national security concerns and its determination to address the threat posed by Hamas, even in the face of international diplomatic pressure.

Israel has issued on Arabic language flyer dividing southern Gaza into sectors and advising the local population to relocated to the safer sectors toward Rafiah on the Egyptian border which are not the immediate targets of IDF activity. In the coming weeks, the IDF is expected to focus on the Hamas stronghold in Khan Yunis in the southeast area of the Strip.

Israel’s response has so far been moderate. Military analysts say that fire on Hamas must be increased dramatically to achieve the war aims of toppling Hamas and returning all hostages. Israel has not ruled out additional pauses if Hamas can produce additional sets of ten or more hostages for release. The remaining 120 hostages are mostly soldiers or of military age, one-third women, plus a dozen or more men over sixty years old.