Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill over 450, shatter ceasefire

Gaza City/Jerusalem – March 18, 2025: At least 450 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning, according to hospital officials. The bombing shattered a fragile ceasefire that has been in place since January and rekindled fears of a wider war in the already devastated region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes after Hamas rejected Israeli demands to revise the terms of the ceasefire deal. The Israeli military indicated the operation was open, with evacuations ordered in several areas, indicating a possible ground invasion.

Netanyahu’s office said, “From now on Israel will act against Hamas with increasing military force,” indicating a prolonged military operation. The White House confirmed that Israel had consulted the US before the attacks, and Washington backed Israel’s stance.

Humanitarian catastrophe unfolds

In one of the deadliest days of the conflict, entire families were wiped out. A single attack on a home in Rafah killed 17 members of a family, including five children and their parents, according to the European Hospital. In Khan Younis, hospitals struggled as wounded Palestinians arrived.

“We are still suffering from the past months. Nobody wants any more war,” said Gaza resident Nidal Alzanin.

Gaza’s health ministry reported at least 326 people dead by midday, with hundreds more injured. Rescuers continued to pull bodies from the rubble as the bombing continued.

Political fallout in Israel

The renewed hostilities have increased pressure on Netanyahu, who faces growing criticism over his handling of the war and the hostage crisis. Protests have erupted across Israel, with demonstrators accusing the government of abandoning efforts to free the remaining hostages held by Hamas. The Forum of Hostages and Missing Families, which represents families of hostages, issued a scathing statement: “We are shocked, angry and horrified by the deliberate scuttling of the process to return our loved ones.” Netanyahu’s decision to sack the head of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency has also sparked outrage, with many seeing it as an attempt to deflect blame.

Hamas accuses Israel of breaking ceasefire

Hamas condemned the Israeli attacks and described them as a “death sentence” for the remaining hostages. Senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishek accused Netanyahu of rekindling the war to win support for his right-wing coalition. “Hamas repeatedly refused to release the hostages and rejected all proposals from American and Qatari mediators,” Netanyahu’s office responded.

Ceasefire talks fail

The ceasefire was briefly halted under a first phase deal under which Hamas released 25 hostages in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. But negotiations for a second phase – focused on releasing the remaining 59 hostages – stalled. Hamas demanded a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel insisted on eliminating Hamas’ military and political power. With neither side willing to compromise, the fragile ceasefire collapsed.

Impact of the war on Gaza

Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023 – killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages – retaliatory Israeli attacks have devastated Gaza. More than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed and 90% of the population has been displaced.

Despite international calls for de-escalation, it appears Israel’s latest offensive could escalate even further, plunging the region into a longer and more dangerous phase of conflict.

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