Israel Launches Gaza Strikes After It Says Hamas Violated Ceasefire & Failed To Return Hostage Remains
The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears to be unraveling. On Tuesday, the Israeli military launched what Prime Minister Netanyahu called “powerful” strikes in response to what officials say were multiple ceasefire violations by Hamas, including attacks on Israeli troops.
Hamas has also continued to delay the return of the bodies of 13 deceased Israeli hostages, including two Americans, that were supposed to be returned as of two weeks ago.
The truce, in place for just over two weeks, had already been strained by a series of shooting incidents.
Israeli and U.S. officials accuse Hamas of deliberately stalling the return of all hostage remains — stretching what the agreed-upon 72-hour process into weeks. The new strikes come after President Trump warned Hamas on Saturday that it had 48 hours to return the remaining hostages. That deadline has now passed.
ON THE GROUND
Tensions escalated further Monday after drone footage showed Hamas staging the discovery of the body of an Israeli hostage. The Israeli video shows militants throwing remains into a shallow grave, covering them with dirt, and then pretending to uncover them for the cameras in front of Red Cross representatives.
Israeli officials say the remains were those of Ofir Tzarfati, whose partial body had already been recovered by Israeli forces in 2023 — not one of the 13 still-unreturned hostages.
Both Washington and Jerusalem now contend Hamas knows the locations of nearly all the deceased hostages’ bodies but is using the issue for leverage and for time to regroup.
🚨 ONE THING THAT’S UNFOLDING
Record-Breaking Category 5 Hurricane Makes Landfall In Jamaica
⏳ THE SPEED READ
🚨NATION
Texas attorney general sues Tylenol company over autism claims (TEXAS TRIBUNE)
California Republicans retreat as anti-Prop 50 campaign collapses (POLITICO)
Trump appeals criminal conviction in New York “hush money” case (CBS)
Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino to testify in federal court over using tear gas on Chicago residents (FOX)
Judge rules that Charlie Kirk murder suspect can wear civilian clothes in court but must remain restrained (ABC)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
Mass killings reported in Sudanese city seized by paramilitary group (THE GUARDIAN)
Moscow adopts law on year-round conscription (KYIV POST)
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s accused killer pleads guilty during Trump visit (FOX)
Plane crashes while flying tourists to Kenya’s Maasai Mara, killing 11 people (AP)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
Amazon lays off about 14,000 corporate workers as it spends big on AI (NPR)
UPS cuts 48,000 jobs in the year to date as its turnaround continues (AP)
Neutrogena makeup wipes recalled across four states after bacteria found in product testing (FOX)
More than a million people every week show suicidal intent when chatting with ChatGPT, OpenAI estimates (GUARDIAN)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Americans divided on Bad Bunny Super Bowl performance, new poll shows (THE HILL)
‘One Battle After Another’ leads 2025 Gotham Film Awards nominees (INDIE WIRE)
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is scheduled to be released from prison in May 2028 (NBC)
A newly discovered Dr. Seuss manuscript will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary (AP)
ICYMI FROM THE 📲
In case you missed it… After a six-hour, 39-minute marathon of a baseball game, the Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 in 18 innings to take a 2-1 lead in the World Series.
It was only the second World Series game in history to reach 18 innings, matching the Dodgers’ 2018 showdown with the Red Sox.
Game 4 starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani set multiple records.
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 18th, securing the W — watch ⬆️.
Up next: The teams play again at 8 pm ET tonight.