Destruction caused by Israeli bombing of Jabalia camp, Gaza Strip. Photo by Hussein Jaber/UNRWA.

On Monday, Israel resumed its bombing of civilians in Gaza, killing over 400 in a single wave of attacks.

While this aggression marks the definitive end of the January 19 ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in fact, Israel never abided by the ceasefire. Prior to Monday’s bombings, Israel had violated the ceasefire at least 962 times. These violations killed 116 Palestinian civilians and wounded 490. Meanwhile, Israel had reimposed its blockade of humanitarian aid in previous weeks and cut Gaza’s electricity supply, depriving 600,000 Palestinians of access to drinking water. UNICEF warned that Israel’s blockade of Gaza will worsen malnutrition and bring vaccination to a “standstill,” while neonatal units “won’t be able to care for preterm babies.”

It appears the Israeli government has come to the conclusion that it has nothing to gain from even pretending to honour the agreement’s terms. With US backing, the IDF sent bombs ripping through the Palestinian enclave once again, killing hundreds and unilaterally shattering the ceasefire deal.

Gaza’s health care system, previously targeted for destruction by Israeli occupation forces in what the United Nations

© Canadian Dimension