March 18, 2025: Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, breaking a ceasefire that had been in place since January. According to Palestinian health officials, the strikes have killed at least 200 people, including several children, and left dozens wounded. The attacks hit multiple locations, including Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, and Rafah, marking the most intense Israeli assault in months.
The Israeli military confirmed the strikes, stating that they targeted Hamas infrastructure. In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency described the operation as an extensive military campaign against Hamas. Among those killed was senior Hamas security official Mahmoud Abu Watfa, as reported by Hamas-affiliated media. A senior Hamas leader accused Israel of unilaterally overturning the ceasefire, while Israel blamed Hamas for refusing to release hostages despite ongoing mediation efforts by Egypt and Qatar.
The ceasefire, initially brokered on January 19, had led to the release of 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, negotiations stalled as Israel accused Hamas of delaying talks, while Hamas insisted that any new agreement must include a permanent end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal—terms that Israel rejected. Tensions continued to escalate, culminating in Tuesday’s airstrikes.
As the attacks unfolded, it was reported that Israel had consulted the Trump administration before carrying out the strikes. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking on Fox News, confirmed that Israel had informed the U.S. government in advance. She added that President Donald Trump had previously warned Hamas and other groups, including Iran-backed Houthis, that they would “see a price to pay” for acts of terrorism.
In Gaza, the humanitarian crisis deepened as medical teams struggled to cope with the rising casualties. Witnesses reported widespread destruction in residential areas, including buildings in Gaza City and Deir al-Balah. The Palestinian Health Ministry warned that Gaza’s hospitals, already overwhelmed by months of war, are now on the verge of collapse.
The latest escalation follows fifteen months of conflict that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen stormed Israeli border towns, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a relentless military campaign that has so far killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. The ongoing war has devastated Gaza’s infrastructure and displaced nearly its entire population of 2.3 million people.
With diplomatic efforts failing and the violence escalating, the situation in Gaza remains volatile, raising fears of further bloodshed in the coming days.