Israel resumes assault on Gaza, killing 342 Palestinians as ceasefire with Hamas collapses

At least 342 Palestinians have been killed as Israel launched a large-scale assault across Gaza, shattering the two-month-old ceasefire with Hamas. The attacks, which took place on Tuesday (17 March), struck multiple areas, including Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza, Gaza City in the north, and Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. Gaza’s Ministry of Health stated that many of those killed were children, as reported by Al Jazeera on 18 March. Hamas, which governs Gaza, accused Israel of unilaterally cancelling the ceasefire that had been in place since 19 January. In a statement, Hamas claimed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government were “overturning the ceasefire agreement” and endangering hostages still held in Gaza. The group called for protests in Arab and Islamic nations, as well as among “free people of the world.”

Israel justifies attack, citing hostages

Netanyahu defended the offensive, stating he had ordered the military to take “strong action” against Hamas due to its refusal to release hostages taken from Israel or agree to ceasefire extensions. “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. The Israeli military confirmed the attacks, stating on X "formerly Twitter" that it was carrying out “extensive strikes on terror targets” belonging to Hamas. Military officials said dozens of targets had been hit and warned that the operation would continue as long as necessary. The military also suggested that its actions could go beyond airstrikes, raising the possibility of a return to ground operations. Hospitals in Gaza, already struggling after 15 months of bombardment, were overwhelmed with casualties. At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, and Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, officials reported receiving around 85 dead bodies. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society stated that its teams had handled at least 86 dead and 134 wounded, with others arriving at hospitals in private vehicles due to the strained medical services. Among the victims were 16 members of a single family killed in Rafah.

Mediated ceasefire efforts collapse

Prior to the attack, negotiating teams from Israel and Hamas had been in Doha, where mediators from Egypt and Qatar attempted to bridge differences between the two sides. The initial ceasefire agreement, which began in January, had resulted in the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel, with US support, had been pushing for an extension of the ceasefire to secure the release of 59 remaining hostages. The proposed agreement would have paused fighting until after Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover in April. However, Hamas insisted on a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, terms Israel did not accept. The collapse of the ceasefire marks a significant escalation in the conflict, with both sides blaming each other for the breakdown.