Israel says the resumption of deadly strikes in the Gaza Strip is aimed at increasing pressure on Hamas. It¡¯s also tightened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu¡¯s grip on power and caused significant unease among swathes of the public.
Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right minister, rejoined the ruling coalition in support of the return to fighting, swelling Netanyahu¡¯s majority to 68 seats out of the 120 in parliament. That gives the country¡¯s longest-serving premier greater freedom of action, though it caused anxiety among Israelis concerned about the fate of hostages still held in Gaza and the resumption of a war with no clear end.
Attacks by air and sea early Wednesday killed about a dozen people, according to local media, adding to the 404 people killed in a surprise Israeli offensive across Gaza early Tuesday, the Hamas-run health ministry said. That ended a nearly 2-month-old ceasefire, during which talks on an extension failed to get off the ground.
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