US Backs Down as Netanyahu Orders New Wave of Gaza Strikes, Trump's Legacy Suffers. 
In a dramatic escalation of violence in the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given the green light to his military to carry out powerful strikes across the Gaza Strip, just days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited a new US military base in Israel.
The latest wave of bombing in Gaza has killed over 100 people, with many more injured. The attacks come as Israeli officials have claimed that Hamas fighters had fired on Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza, a claim disputed by Hamas.
Netanyahu's decision to order the strikes appears to be an attempt to undermine a ceasefire agreement that was brokered just four days ago. The US has been accused of backing down from its own commitment to maintaining the ceasefire after Rubio toured the military base.
Yousef Munayyer, head of the Palestine/Israel Program at Arab Center Washington DC, believes that the US is not taking a strong stance against Israel's aggression in Gaza. Munayyer argued that "all eyes are now on Washington" and whether they will act as an impartial referee or allow Israel to get away with its actions.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has expressed concerns over the handling of hostages by both sides, while Hamas maintains it is committed to upholding the ceasefire agreement. The Israeli government has also been accused of undermining the peace process, limiting humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and continuing to block the Rafah border crossing.
Hamas's return of living Israeli hostages was hailed as a key part of the ceasefire deal, but their efforts to exhume and return the remains of 15 deceased Israelis are being met with resistance. The group has accused Israel of barring entry to teams and heavy machinery needed for the digging process.
Israeli officials have claimed that Hamas violated the ceasefire agreement, in an attempt to justify continued attacks on Gaza. However, Munayyer believes that "the international community is going to buy that", and questioned whether the US would take action against Israel if it did so.
The conflict has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups, with Ramy Abdu of Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor stating that "this is their strategy, they want Palestinians to do anything to react just to complete their mission."
				
			In a dramatic escalation of violence in the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given the green light to his military to carry out powerful strikes across the Gaza Strip, just days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited a new US military base in Israel.
The latest wave of bombing in Gaza has killed over 100 people, with many more injured. The attacks come as Israeli officials have claimed that Hamas fighters had fired on Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza, a claim disputed by Hamas.
Netanyahu's decision to order the strikes appears to be an attempt to undermine a ceasefire agreement that was brokered just four days ago. The US has been accused of backing down from its own commitment to maintaining the ceasefire after Rubio toured the military base.
Yousef Munayyer, head of the Palestine/Israel Program at Arab Center Washington DC, believes that the US is not taking a strong stance against Israel's aggression in Gaza. Munayyer argued that "all eyes are now on Washington" and whether they will act as an impartial referee or allow Israel to get away with its actions.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has expressed concerns over the handling of hostages by both sides, while Hamas maintains it is committed to upholding the ceasefire agreement. The Israeli government has also been accused of undermining the peace process, limiting humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and continuing to block the Rafah border crossing.
Hamas's return of living Israeli hostages was hailed as a key part of the ceasefire deal, but their efforts to exhume and return the remains of 15 deceased Israelis are being met with resistance. The group has accused Israel of barring entry to teams and heavy machinery needed for the digging process.
Israeli officials have claimed that Hamas violated the ceasefire agreement, in an attempt to justify continued attacks on Gaza. However, Munayyer believes that "the international community is going to buy that", and questioned whether the US would take action against Israel if it did so.
The conflict has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups, with Ramy Abdu of Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor stating that "this is their strategy, they want Palestinians to do anything to react just to complete their mission."