Israel unilaterally ended the ceasefire with Gaza on Tuesday, launching extensive airstrikes that killed over 400 Palestinians and injured more than 560, marking one of the deadliest days since hostilities resumed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced this action as only the beginning of intensified military operations, justified by Hamas’s rejection of ceasefire proposals, including a US-backed plan involving hostage releases.
“Hamas has already felt the strength of our arm in the past 24 hours,” Netanyahu said in a televised address on Tuesday evening. “And I want to promise you – and them – this is only the beginning.”
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“From now on, negotiations will take place only under fire,” he continued, adding that “Military pressure is essential for the release of additional hostages.”
Israel previously issued evacuation warnings, but survivors described the resulting devastation as severe, disproportionately affecting women and children, and overwhelming Gaza’s hospitals.
The renewed violence has intensified a pre-existing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by an ongoing Israeli blockade, cutting off humanitarian aid and leaving many residents without basic necessities.
“There are shortages of food, supplies, and fuel,” Tommaso Della Longa, spokesman for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, told a briefing in Geneva following the strikes. “No fuel and no aid have entered Gaza since the beginning of March. Fewer ambulances are able to operate and this morning’s bombardment has seen ambulances responding across the Gaza Strip, which means fuel supplies have plummeted further.”
Hamas has accused Israel of jeopardizing hostage lives, while international mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and the EU, have condemned the attacks and called for an immediate halt to military operations and hostage releases.
Amid growing global criticism and accusations of genocide from regional leaders, a coalition of international legal organizations is forming to pursue war crimes charges against Israeli forces.
The situation remains critically tense as the international community closely monitors developments. Nevertheless, Israel has vowed to continue its campaign until Hamas is completely wiped out and the last remaining hostages have been returned.
“I want to assure all our friends around the world, Israel will fight and Israel will win. We will bring our people home and we will destroy Hamas,” Netanyahu insisted. “We will not relent until we achieve all these vital goals and we will not rest until we give our country a figure of peace, prosperity, and hope.”
Hamas is responsible for this war. pic.twitter.com/JRabT6KAv4
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 18, 2025
Connor Walcott is the lead writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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