On 18 March 2025, Israel launched a large-scale missile and artillery attack in the Gaza Strip, the heaviest since a previous ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), which has named the offensive Operation Might and Sword (Hebrew: מבצע עוז וחרב, Oz VaHerev[4]), stated that the strikes targeted leadership figures, mid-ranking military commanders, and operational infrastructure of Hamas, in coordination with the United States,[1] following a breakdown in hostage release negotiations.[5]
The offensive, which included airstrikes on multiple targets in Gaza City, Khan Yunis, and Rafah, was described by the IDF as part of a broader strategy to weaken Hamas's governance and operational capacity.[5] According to Gaza Health Ministry, the attacks resulted with over 404 people killed, and hundreds more injured.[5][6] Among the dead was Mahmoud Abu Wafah, Gaza's deputy interior minister.[7] The Gaza Health Ministry deemed 18 March as the Gaza war's deadliest day since the war's beginning in October 2023.[8]
The Israeli government said it carried out the attack in response to Hamas's refusal to extend a ceasefire through additional hostage releases. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that military operations would continue until all Israeli hostages were freed and Hamas's military capabilities were neutralized.[5] The attacks occurred a few weeks after United States President Donald Trump warned that "all hell" would break loose if Hamas did not release hostages.[9] US envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been leading mediation efforts alongside Egypt and Qatar, previously stated that Hamas must release living hostages immediately "or pay a severe price."[5] US National Security Council spokesman asserted that the group "could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war."[5] Israel informed the US before initiating the operation.[10]
Hamas condemned the strikes as a violation of the ceasefire, accusing Israel of endangering hostages held in Gaza,[5] although it has not yet responded militarily to the strikes.[2] The escalation prompted international reactions, with the United Nations Security Council convening an emergency session to address the crisis.[5] The regional mediators intensified diplomatic efforts to broker a renewed truce.[5] The US reaffirmed Israel's right to self-defense and attributed responsibility to Hamas for the failure to extend the ceasefire through hostage negotiations.[5] The White House released a statement saying that Hamas and other regional entities "will see a price to pay," reiterating that "All hell will break loose."[10]
In mid-January 2025, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect, pausing the Gaza war.[11] The terms of the ceasefire deal included three phases: the first phase involved a limited Israeli-Palestinian prisoner exchange as well as increased aid into the Gaza Strip, the second phase would complete the prisoner exchange and mark the end of the war, and the third phase would involve the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.[12] The details of the second phase were to be negotiated, but the Biden administration had it made it clear that the first phase of the ceasefire would continue until the second phase could be agreed upon.[13]
Instead of continuing to the second phase of the ceasefire, as agreed upon in the original agreement, Israel instead insisted on a "new plan" (called the "Witkoff plan" after Steve Witkoff) in which Hamas would release the Israeli captives in exchange for a 50 day extension of the ceasefire, with Israel retaining the option of returning to war.[14] The Witkoff plan is not what Israel and Hamas had agreed to in January.[14][15] According to Al Jazeera, Israel effectively "reneged on the ceasefire deal" by refusing to move to the second phase of the ceasefire.[16]CBS News writes that some of the Trump's and Netanyahu's proposals also contradicted the terms of the the Gaza ceasefire deal.[15] Hamas insisted on the full implementation of the ceasefire deal agreed upon in January.[17]
However, according to Palestinian officials, the Israel Defense Forces violated the ceasefire hundreds of times, carrying out strikes on the Gaza Strip that had killed over 100 people.[18] Netanyahu and Israeli officials have claimed that Hamas violated the ceasefire during a body release. Hamas claims that a mix-up may have occurred.[19]
On 2 March, shortly after the beginning of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, Israel shut down the entry of all humanitarian aid (including food and fuel) into the Gaza Strip.[20] A few days later, Israel shut down electricity to Gaza Strip's main desalination plant, which provided drinking water for 500,000 Palestinians.[20]
Netanyahu was scheduled on 18 March to testify in his corruption trial, but as a result of the attacks, the legal proceedings were postponed.[22] An Israeli military report released on the same day alleged that Hamas had begun preparations for a new raid on Israel to attack communities and kibbutzim near the border, as well as Israeli soldiers in Gaza.[23]
Attacks
The attacks began on 18 March 2025, at approximately 2:20 a.m local time, during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.[24][25][26] Following a ceasefire instituted around two months prior, the Israeli strikes of 18 March 2025 were a surprise attack,[27] with the Israeli military stating that their attack "plan was kept in closed circles in the IDF to create an element of surprise and deception."[28]
An unidentified Israeli military official stated to Reuters that they would continue the attacks indefinitely, and would incorporate further military elements beyond airstrikes.[34]
An Al Jazeera reporter in Gaza stated that heavy shelling from Israeli tanks targeted eastern sections of Abasan, Khan Yunis. Six family members travelling in a car in Abasan were killed in one of the strikes.[34] The shelling reportedly killed thirteen people. One strike in Rafah reportedly killed seventeen members of a single family.[35] The Al-Tabi'in School in Gaza City, which was sheltering refugees at the time of the attacks, was struck, causing segments of the building to collapse. A Gaza City prison in the Al-Shati refugee camp was hit in an airstrike, collapsing the building and killing over thirty-six prisoners and prison guards.[8]
Casualties
At least 404 people have been killed, including children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.[36] The ministry reported that more than 560 people were injured due to the attacks.[5] Over seventy people were reported injured in central Gaza.[37]Issam al-Da'alis, whose position is akin to the Prime Minister of Gaza was killed in the attacks.[38] The head of the Gaza Health Ministry's records department Zaher al-Waheidi stated that 263 or more victims were women or children. He deemed 18 March as the Gaza war's deadliest day since the war's beginning in October 2023.[8]
The Gaza Strip's Government Media Office stated that most of the casualties were women, the elderly, and children; reporting that "entire families" had been killed. The office said that the attacks were tactically designed to destroy the will of the Gazan population, and urged the international community to stop the attacks and hold Israeli officials accountable.[34]
Muhammad Abu Salmiya, the director of the al-Shifa Hospital, reported that during the emergency response to the attacks, an injured victim died "every minute" in the hospital due to a lack of healthcare supplies. He stated that between Gaza City and North Gaza, only four intensive care beds were available, and that attempts to reach injured victims beneath the rubble were "extremely difficult".[34]
Aftermath
Blockades
During and following the strikes, Israel implemented a total blockade on all humanitarian supplies, including food, water, healthcare medications and supplies, cooking materials, and other essential goods. Several requests made by the United Nations Security Council to collect and distribute aid left at the Karem Shalom border crossing were "systematically denied". In addition, Israel cut off power to the desalination plant in southern Gaza, restricting the availability of clean water for about 600,000 people. The blockade on commercial goods led to surging prices of staple foods, with prices for vegetables tripling in North Gaza and at least six World Food Programme-subsidized bakeries being forces to close as a result of lacking cooking supplies and gas.[34]
In addition, Israel initiated movement restrictions against Palestinians at almost 1,000 roadblocks and checkpoints in the West Bank. The restrictions reportedly forced civilians to make hazardous detours or wait for several hours in queue, significantly impacting the operations of businesses in the West Bank.[34]
Evacuations
The Israeli Defense Forces ordered the evacuation of all civilians from areas of eastern Gaza towards its center.[8] The areas placed in evacuation orders included Beit Hanoun in North Gaza, as well as Abasan al-Kabira, Abasan al-Saghira, and Khuza'a in Khan Yunis.[35]
Gaza responses
The Education Ministry in the Gaza Strip ordered the suspension of classes in dozens of schools.[8]
Reactions
Israel
Israeli defense minister Israel Katz said that Israel has "returned to fighting in Gaza".[37] He further stated that if Hamas did not release all held captives in Palestinian territory, that Israel would open the "gates of hell" on Gaza, and would discharge forces that Hamas "have never known before".[34] Israel indefinitely shut down the Rafah Border Crossing during the attacks.[39]
Foreign Minister of IsraelGideon Sa'ar stated that Israel was given "no choice" but to break the ceasefire agreement due to stalling negotiations and the cessation of hostage returns by Hamas in the two and a half weeks prior to the attacks. He described the situation as a "deadlock" where "nothing would move" without further action. He also stated that the military operation initiated by the strikes would not be limited to a single day.[34]
Palestine
Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq stated that "Netanyahu's decision to resume war" was "a decision to sacrifice the occupation's prisoners and impose a death sentence on them".[41] A senior official of Hamas stated to Reuters that the renewed attacks represented Israel's unilateral termination of the ceasefire started in January 19. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) characterized Israel as "deliberately sabotaging all efforts to reach a ceasefire" to restart its "war of extermination" on Gaza. The paramilitary group called Netanyahu's cabinet a "bloodthirsty Nazi government", and vowed that the cabinet will fail to achieve their objectives.[34] Hamas official Taher Nunu described the attacks as a "moral test" for the international community, based on whether it would allow the bombardments on civilians to go on, or if it acted to stop the violence towards Palestinian civilians.[35]
International
Australia: Prime MinisterAnthony Albanese stated after the attacks in Gaza that "There's already been enormous suffering there, which is why we're calling upon all parties to respect the ceasefire and hostage deal that was put in place," he further stated that "We'll continue to make representations. Australia will continue to stand up for peace and security in the region".[41]
Belgium: Foreign MinisterMaxime Prevot stated on X, calling for both parties to implement the second phase of the agreement, "which must pave the way for reconstruction and peace for all", further condemning the "new Israeli strikes and their heavy human toll", adding that Israel's blocking of humanitarian aid to Palestinians was "a serious violation of international law".[41]
China: Ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing was "highly concerned" about the attacks, calling for parties to avoid any actions "that could lead to an escalation of the situation, and prevent a larger-scale humanitarian disaster".[41]
Egypt: The Egyptian government which is acting as a mediator alongside Qatar and the US, called the Israeli attacks a "flagrant violation" of the deal with the foreign ministry calling the attacks a "dangerous escalation which threatens to have bring serious about consequences for the stability of the region".[41]
France: The foreign ministry condemned the attacks, calling for "an immediate end to hostilities, which are jeopardizing efforts to free the hostages and threatening the lives of the civilian population in Gaza".[41]
Germany: Foreign MinisterAnnalena Baerbock said the Israeli attacks is a "cause for great concern", further stated that "The images of burning tents in refugee camps are shocking. Fleeing children and internally displaced persons must never be used as leverage in negotiations".[41]
Ireland: Prime MinisterMicheál Martin condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza and called on all parties to respect the ceasefire and the agreement to release hostages and return to negotiations "for the sake of all the civilians in Gaza, who have already endured unimaginable hardships, there must be an urgent end to all hostilities".[41]
Italy: Prime MinisterGiorgia Meloni said the Israeli attacks on Gaza put the prospect of a deal to release the captives at risk, during her speech on the Italian senate she said that "We are following with great concern the resumption of fighting in Gaza… which jeopardizes the objectives we are all working towards: the release of all hostages and a permanent end to hostility, as well as the restoration of full humanitarian assistance in the Strip.[41]
Jordan: Government spokesman Mohammed Momani said that Jordan has been following Israel's "aggressive and barbaric bombing of the Gaza Strip" and understands the need to stop it.[41]
Lebanon: Hezbollah has condemned the continuation of Israel's "war of termination" and reaffirms its support for Gaza.[42]
Netherlands: Foreign MinisterCasper Veldkamp stated on X that "all hostilities must end permanently", he stated that all parties should "respect the terms of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal. All civilians must be protected,"and added that "We urge all parties to implement it in full: the remaining hostages must be released, humanitarian aid must reach those in need."[41]
Norway: Prime MinisterJonas Gahr Støre said the Israeli attacks were "a great tragedy" for the people of Gaza. Saying that "They are almost without protection. Many of them live in tents and on the ruins of what has been destroyed".[41]
Qatar: The Foreign ministry has condemned the attack and warning in a statement that Israel's "escalating policies will ultimately ignite the region and undermine its security and stability".[41]
Saudi Arabia: The foreign ministry stated that the country voiced it's condemnation and denunciation "in the strongest terms of the Israeli occupation forces' resumption of aggression … and their direct bombardment of areas populated by unarmed civilians".[41]
Spain: Foreign MinisterJosé Manuel Albares condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza and said to the broadcaster Onda Cero he "can't find the words to describe the situation in Gaza, We must mourn and reject this new wave of violence and these new bombings, which indiscriminately hit the civilian population".[41]
Turkey: The Foreign ministry called the Israeli attacks a "new phase in its policy of genocide", further stating that it was unacceptable for Israel to cause a "new cycle of violence" in the region adding Israel's "hostile approach" threatened the future of the region.[41]
United Arab Emirates: The Foreign ministry has condemned "in It's strongest terms" the Israeli attacks that "led to the deaths and injuries of hundreds of Palestinians, which constitutes a breach of the ceasefire agreement reached in January," the foreign ministry warns of the "consequences of any military escalation which threatens to cause further loss of innocent life and exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip".[43]
United Kingdom: The British government called on Israel and Hamas to implement their ceasefire agreement for Gaza "in full", calling for all parties to "return urgently to dialogue". The spokesperson for Prime MinisterKeir Starmer stated that "We want to see this ceasefire agreement re-established as soon as possible," adding that reported civilian casualties from Israeli strikes overnight were "appalling".[41] The Starmer government publicly rejected a statement by Foreign SecretaryDavid Lammy to the House of Commons assessing that Israel had broken international law with the strikes. Keir Starmer's office stated that it was up to the Foreign Office to decide whether Lammy had overstepped the government's attitude toward the attacks, and if he should apologize.[40][44]
United States: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump has made it clear that groups like Hamas, the Houthis, and Iran will face consequences for their actions against both Israel and the U.S.[41] Acting U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, asserted that Hamas bears full responsibility for the renewed violence, citing their rejection of all ceasefire proposals.[41][45] Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has called for sanctions and an arms embargo against Israel after the attacks, stating on a social media post that "the Israeli apartheid regime has resumed its genocide, carrying out air strikes all across Gaza and killing hundreds of Palestinians. This comes after a complete blockade of food, electricity, and aid".[46]
Yemen: The Houthi-run Supreme Political Council has condemned the "Zionist enemy's resumption of aggression against the Gaza Strip", further stating that "The Palestinian people will not be left alone in this battle, and Yemen will continue its support and assistance, and escalate confrontation steps".[41]
Non-government organizations and international organizations
Council on American–Islamic Relations: The organization has condemned the Israeli government for "resuming its horrific and genocidal attacks on the men, women and children of Gaza, killing hundreds of civilians in a matter of hours", further stating that Netanyahu would "clearly rather massacre Palestinian children in refugee camps than risk the disintegration of his cabinet by exchanging all those held by both sides and permanently ending the genocidal war, as required by the ceasefire agreement that PresidentTrump helped broker and that he must salvage".[41]
Hostages and Missing Families Forum: The organization made a statement condemning the renewed attacks as the "intentional shattering" of the process of returning the fifty-nine remaining hostages, and accused Netanyahu's government of "choosing to give up the lives of the hostages". The forum demanded a return to ceasefire conditions and urged United States President Donald Trump to negotiate for the release of all hostages.[39]
Human Rights Watch: The director of the Israel-Palestine branch of the HRW Omar Shakir, says that Israel is openly violating international law in Gaza and urges the international community to hold Israeli officials accountable and end all arms transfers to the country.[46]
Islamic Relief: The organization has condemned the inaction of Western and Arab Israeli allies, stating that their "superficial expressions of concerns" instead of imposing arms and trade restrictions against Israel meant little in the face of repeated violations of international law, and made them complicit in the ongoing crimes against humanity.[34]
Norwegian Refugee Council: the group's stated that the Israeli attacks threatens to "plunge Gaza into yet another cycle of mass death, destruction, and displacement".[48]
Save the Children: humanitarian director based in central Gaza's Deir al-Balah, Rachael Cummings, said the collapse of the ceasefire was "nothing short of a death sentence for Gaza's children", she further stated that the denial of aid coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan amounted to a "grave violation against children".[41]
United Nations: Secretary-GeneralAntonio Guterres said in a statement issued by his spokesperson that he is "shocked" by the Israeli attacks, which has killed "a meaningful number" of civilians, further stating that he "strongly appeals for the ceasefire to be respected, for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to be reestablished and for the remaining hostages to be released unconditionally".[41]
UNRWA: The head of the organization Philippe Lazzarini condemned the attack, he wrote "Awful scenes of civilians killed among them children following waves of heavy bombardment from Israeli Forces overnight," he wrote. "Fuelling 'hell on earth' by resuming the war will only bring more despair & suffering."[41]
OHCHR: High Commissioner Volker Türk stated that the attack will "add tragedy onto tragedy," he further stated that the Israeli attack would “only heap further misery upon a Palestinian population already suffering catastrophic conditions".[41]
European Union: High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said in a social media post that "Israel must end its military operations and resume entry of humanitarian aid and electricity to Gaza. Hamas must release all hostages immediately."[49]
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