The Israeli military launched strikes across Gaza early Tuesday, ending a weeks-long deadlock over extending the ceasefire that had paused fighting since January. According to Palestinian health ministry officials, at least 235 people were killed, AFP reported.

A senior Hamas official, cited by Reuters, accused Israel of “unilaterally ending the Gaza ceasefire” following a series of Israeli airstrikes that left dozens dead.

Hamas media, quoted by Reuters, confirmed that senior security official Mahmoud Abu Watfa was killed in the strikes. The head of the Palestinian health ministry, Mohammed Zaqut, told AFP that at least 330 people, including several children, had been killed, while dozens were wounded across Gaza.

“The health ministry has recorded more than 330 deaths, the majority being Palestinian women and children, with hundreds wounded, many in critical condition,” Zaqut stated.

In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency said they were carrying out extensive strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza. According to Fox News, Israel consulted the White House before launching the attacks on Monday.

Ceasefire Collapses

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government have decided to revoke the ceasefire agreement, exposing hostages in Gaza to uncertainty, Reuters quoted a Hamas official as saying.

Netanyahu stated that he had instructed the military to take “strong action” against Hamas in response to the group’s refusal to release hostages and its rejection of ceasefire proposals.

“Israel will now act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” his office announced.

Medics and witnesses reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted three houses in Deir Al-Balah, a building in Gaza City, and locations in Khan Younis and Rafah. The Palestinian civil emergency service counted at least 35 airstrikes on Gaza.

Ceasefire Disagreements

The renewed violence comes amid ongoing disputes between Israel and Hamas over the continuation of the three-phase ceasefire, which began in January.

Despite mediation efforts led by Arab negotiators and backed by the United States, the two sides have failed to reach a consensus over the past two weeks. During the initial phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released around three dozen hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, negotiations for the second phase—aimed at securing the release of the remaining 60 hostages and ending the war—have stalled.

Netanyahu has repeatedly threatened to resume military action and, earlier this month, cut off food and aid deliveries to Gaza in an effort to pressure Hamas.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a cross-border attack that killed approximately 1,200 people and took 250 hostages. In response, Israel’s military campaign has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population. The Health Ministry in Gaza does not differentiate between civilians and militants but states that more than half of the casualties are women and children.

During the ceasefire, hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians were able to return to the ruins of their homes, providing some relief before hostilities resumed.

The European Union announced on Wednesday that it would impose retaliatory tariffs on US imports in response to Donald Trump’s decision to implement a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports.

The EU’s countermeasures, effective from April 1, target a range of industrial and agricultural products. The tariffs will apply to US goods worth approximately 26 billion euros ($28 billion), including steel, aluminum, textiles, home appliances, and agricultural products.

“As the US is imposing tariffs worth $28 billion, we are responding with countermeasures valued at 26 billion euros,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, according to the Associated Press. The European Commission, which oversees trade policy for the 27-member bloc, manages such disputes on their behalf.

Von der Leyen emphasized the EU’s openness to negotiation, stating, “We firmly believe that, in a world facing geopolitical and economic uncertainties, burdening our economies with tariffs is not in our common interest.”

In addition to steel and aluminum, the EU’s tariffs will affect a wide range of US exports, including textiles, leather goods, home appliances, household tools, plastics, and wood. Agricultural products such as poultry, beef, seafood, nuts, eggs, sugar, and vegetables will also be impacted.

The EU had anticipated the US tariffs and prepared countermeasures in advance. However, the trade dispute further strains transatlantic relations, which have already been tense. Just last month, Washington warned Europe that it would need to take greater responsibility for its own security in the future.

Trump Defends Tariffs, Von der Leyen Calls Them ‘Bad for Business’

While former US President Donald Trump argued that the tariffs would boost domestic manufacturing jobs, von der Leyen warned that they would instead put jobs at risk and drive up prices on both sides of the Atlantic.

“We deeply regret this measure. Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business and even worse for consumers. These tariffs are disrupting supply chains and creating economic uncertainty,” she said.

This is not the first time Trump has imposed such tariffs. During his first term, he implemented similar duties on EU steel and aluminum, sparking European retaliation. At the time, the EU responded by raising tariffs on American-made motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter, and jeans, among other products.

Trade Relations Between the US and EU

The EU estimates that trade between the two economies amounts to approximately $1.5 trillion annually, accounting for about 30% of global trade. While the EU maintains a trade surplus in goods, it argues that this is partially offset by the US surplus in services.

In 2023, the EU reported trade in goods worth 851 billion euros ($878 billion), with a 156 billion euro ($161 billion) surplus. Meanwhile, trade in services totaled 688 billion euros ($710 billion), with the EU running a 104 billion euro ($107 billion) deficit.