News Coverage: Israel’s Renewed Assault on Gaza – March 21, 2025
As of today, Friday, March 21, 2025, at 11:48 AM PDT, the volatile situation between Israel and Gaza has once again erupted into a full-scale crisis. After a fragile two-month ceasefire shattered earlier this week, Israel has launched a barrage of airstrikes and expanded ground operations across the Gaza Strip, targeting what it claims are Hamas strongholds. The renewed offensive has resulted in hundreds of deaths, widespread displacement, and growing international concern over the escalating humanitarian disaster. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the breaking news and the current situation unfolding in the region.
The Collapse of the Ceasefire
The ceasefire, which took effect in late January 2025, had brought a rare period of relative calm to Gaza following over a year of devastating conflict sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. That truce facilitated the release of dozens of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and allowed humanitarian aid to trickle into the beleaguered enclave. However, tensions simmered beneath the surface as both sides accused each other of violating the terms.
The breaking point came on Tuesday, March 18, when Israel unleashed a wave of pre-dawn airstrikes across Gaza, killing more than 400 Palestinians in the initial assault, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the attacks, stating they were a response to Hamas’s “repeated refusal” to release the remaining hostages—believed to number around 59—and accept revised ceasefire terms proposed by mediators. Hamas, in turn, accused Netanyahu of unilaterally dismantling the truce to serve his political agenda, putting the lives of hostages at further risk.
A Deadly Escalation
Since Tuesday, the death toll has climbed rapidly. By Thursday, March 20, local health officials reported nearly 600 Palestinians killed, with the toll expected to rise as rescue operations continue amidst the rubble. Israeli ground forces have pushed deeper into Gaza, targeting Rafah in the south and Beit Lahiya in the north—areas that had seen heavy destruction in earlier phases of the war. Video evidence captured by journalists on the ground shows the demolition of key infrastructure, including Gaza’s Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, exacerbating an already dire medical crisis.
On the Israeli side, Hamas retaliated on Thursday by firing a barrage of rockets toward Tel Aviv—the first such attack in months. The Israeli military reported that the rockets were either intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system or landed in open areas, causing no casualties. However, the assault underscored Hamas’s enduring capacity to strike back despite 15 months of war that have significantly weakened its military capabilities.
The renewed Israeli campaign has drawn sharp criticism from humanitarian organizations. The United Nations reported that one of its aid workers, a Bulgarian national, was killed by an explosive device at a UN guesthouse in Deir el-Balah on Wednesday. While Gaza’s health ministry blamed Israeli forces, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied conducting an airstrike in the area, leaving the incident shrouded in uncertainty.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The humanitarian situation in Gaza, already catastrophic before this week’s escalation, has deteriorated further. Israel’s resumption of a total blockade—cutting off food, fuel, medicine, and even electricity—has left the enclave’s 2 million residents in a state of desperation. Doctors in Gaza have described scenes of “armageddon,” with hospitals overwhelmed by the influx of wounded, including children with severed limbs. A lack of basic supplies, such as gloves, syringes, and diesel for generators, has crippled medical efforts.
Thousands of Palestinians are once again fleeing their homes, particularly in northern Gaza, where Israeli strikes have resumed with ferocity. Displaced families, carrying what little they can salvage, have been seen trudging through devastated streets, seeking safety that remains elusive. The UN has warned that aid agencies are now rationing all assistance, including fuel, as Israel continues to block humanitarian convoys from entering Gaza.
International Reactions and Diplomatic Fallout
The international community has responded with a mix of condemnation and calls for restraint. U.S. President Donald Trump, who returned to office earlier this year, has expressed tacit support for Israel’s actions, with the White House confirming that Israel consulted the Trump administration before launching Tuesday’s strikes. This stance marks a departure from the Biden administration’s periodic pressure on Israel to minimize civilian casualties and address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
Jordan’s King Abdullah, during a visit to Paris on Wednesday, labeled Israel’s resumption of attacks as “an extremely dangerous step” and urged the restoration of the ceasefire. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, have escalated their own involvement, warning that “any Israeli vessel” in Middle Eastern waters is now a target in retaliation for Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Early Thursday, a Houthi-launched missile was intercepted by Israel before reaching its airspace, signaling the potential for a broader regional conflict.
Within Israel, public opinion is divided. On Wednesday, thousands of Israelis protested outside the Parliament in Jerusalem, demanding a renewed ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages. The demonstrations also reflected growing domestic discontent with Netanyahu, whose decision to fire the head of the Shin Bet security service this week has fueled accusations of a political power grab amid the war.
Why Did Israel Resume the War?
Analysts point to a combination of strategic and political factors behind Israel’s decision to break the ceasefire. Netanyahu has outlined three core objectives since the war began: securing the return of all hostages, dismantling Hamas’s military and governmental control over Gaza, and preventing future attacks. The ceasefire, while achieving partial hostage releases, failed to deliver on the latter two goals, leaving Hamas weakened but intact.
Former Israeli military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin suggested that Tuesday’s strikes were intended to “tell Hamas they will pay a high price” for rejecting the latest ceasefire proposals. Israel’s defense minister has taken an even harder line, threatening to “open the gates of hell” in Gaza unless Hamas meets Netanyahu’s demands. The resumption of ground operations, including the retaking of the Netzarim Corridor—a strategic strip bisecting Gaza—appears aimed at tightening Israel’s grip on the territory.
Critics, however, argue that Netanyahu’s motives are as much political as military. Facing mounting pressure at home over his handling of the war and the October 2023 Hamas attack that triggered it, the prime minister may be using the renewed offensive to bolster his image as a decisive leader. His controversial move to sack the Shin Bet chief, seen by many as a scapegoat for the 2023 security failures, has only deepened this perception.
The Human Cost and What Lies Ahead
The human toll of this latest escalation is staggering. Palestinian health officials estimate that more than 49,000 people have died in Gaza since the war began in October 2023, with the current offensive pushing that number higher. A New York Times investigation recently revealed that Israel has routinely used some of its largest bombs in southern Gaza, leaving behind craters that tell a story of relentless destruction.
For Gaza’s residents, the collapse of the ceasefire has extinguished a fleeting hope of recovery. “Without peace, nothing is going to be solved,” said Patrick Karabell, a youth leader in Malakal, echoing a sentiment felt across the region. Yet, with both sides entrenched—Israel vowing to intensify attacks and Hamas refusing to surrender—the prospect of peace seems further away than ever.
As of now, the fighting shows no signs of abating. Israeli troops are advancing deeper into Gaza, while Hamas promises further retaliation. The international community, despite its pleas, appears powerless to halt the slide back into full-scale war. For the people of Gaza and Israel, the coming days promise more loss, uncertainty, and a deepening of wounds that may take generations to heal.
