Netanyahu Defends Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza, Cites Targeting of Hamas Weapon Caches

Israel launched fresh airstrikes on Gaza late Tuesday, targeting multiple sites in what military officials called a "preemptive response" to rocket fire from Palestinian militants. The attacks killed at least 12 people, including three children, according to Gaza health authorities. Local hospitals reported over 40 wounded, many in critical condition, with shrapnel injuries dominating emergency rooms. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the strikes hit "high-value military infrastructure," including a tunnel network beneath Beit Lahia used for smuggling weapons from Egypt. Satellite imagery showed massive craters and collapsed residential blocks in the densely populated northern Gaza Strip.

The strikes come just hours after fragile ceasefire talks in Cairo showed signs of progress, with mediators warning that the violence could derail negotiations entirely. Egyptian and Qatari officials described the timing as "deeply concerning," with one source saying, "We were inches from a breakthrough." Diplomats had been cautiously optimistic after Hamas signaled willingness to release three more hostages in exchange for a 72-hour pause in fighting, but the airstrikes have now frozen all communication channels. A planned follow-up meeting scheduled for Wednesday morning was abruptly canceled.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the operation in a televised address, stating, "We will not tolerate threats to our citizens. Every rocket fired will be met with overwhelming force." The IDF released drone footage showing secondary explosions, claiming the targets were Hamas weapon caches hidden in civilian areas. Military analysts noted the precision of the strikes, using 2,000-pound bombs on underground facilities, though critics questioned the proportionality given the civilian death toll. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reportedly approved the operation after intelligence indicated an imminent large-scale rocket barrage.

Also Read: Israel Launches Airstrikes on Netanyahu’s Orders, Gaza Officials Say 30 Dead

Hamas condemned the strikes as "a declaration of war" and vowed retaliation. Spokesman Abu Obaida warned, "The resistance will respond at a time and place of its choosing." Within hours, sirens blared across southern Israel as at least seven rockets were launched from northern Gaza, intercepted by the Iron Dome. One rocket fragment landed in a playground in Sderot, narrowly missing children who had just returned from school. Hamas later claimed responsibility, saying the barrage was "the first message" in response to Israel's aggression.

Smoke billowed over Gaza City as rescue teams searched rubble for survivors. The United Nations called for immediate de-escalation, warning of a "catastrophic humanitarian fallout." UNRWA reported that one strike hit near a school sheltering displaced families, though no casualties were confirmed inside. Civil defense workers used bare hands and flashlights to dig through collapsed buildings, pulling out survivors covered in dust and blood.

On the ground, Gaza’s power plant shut down after fuel reserves were depleted, plunging the strip into darkness. Hospitals relied on generators running on fumes, and water desalination plants halted, leaving millions with minimal access to clean water. With both sides digging in, the 18-month conflict shows no signs of ending. Analysts warn that without immediate international intervention, the violence could spiral into a full-scale resumption of hostilities, potentially worse than the devastating 2023-2024 war that claimed over 42,000 lives.

Also Read: Israel Accuses Hamas of “Clear Violation” after Returning Old Hostage Remains