Israel resumes Gaza attack after the first phase of negotiations ended

Israel launched a surprise missile attack on Gaza ending the ceasefire negotiations that started on 19 January 2025. The attack killed more than 400 Palestinians on the first night which included 183 children and 94 women. In three days, the casualties have risen to nearly 600 people — the majority are children and women. 

The Israeli military launched a ground assault reoccupying the Netzarim corridor which divides Gaza into northern and southern parts. Last month the Israeli military had retreated from those areas as a part of the ceasefire deal.

After the attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that this was only the beginning and that Israel will continue attacking Hamas with increasing military force. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has stated that they targeted mid-level military officers and leaders of Hamas in these attacks.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz released a video warning Hamas to release hostages or face harsher consequences. ‘Israel would act with force beyond anything you have ever seen’, he said, demanding the removal of Hamas and release of prisoners.

The Israel-Hamas war started after Hamas led a surprise attack on Israel on 7th October 2023. Israeli retaliation came on 27th October 2023 when they bombed the Gaza strip after removing Hamas militants from their territory. Israel launched a full scale attack on Gaza with the motive to remove Hamas and release hostages. As of this March, 48,405 Palestinians have been killed in the war.

The two factions agreed for the first ceasefire in November 2023 but it quickly ended as Hamas attacked Israel citing Israel’s violation of ceasefire and refusal to release hostages.

Israel and Hamas agreed for a second ceasefire deal, brokered by the US, Saudi Arabia and Egypt on 19 January 2025 until 18 March 2025. The negotiations included prisoner exchange, removal of Israeli troops from the Gaza strip, and reconstruction of Gaza. The deal was pushed by the Biden-administration and later Trump. But after taking office, President Trump made controversial comments on displacing Palestininans and taking over Gaza to rebuild it, including an insensitive post on social media  [Refer: Trump Gaza AI Generated Video posted by Trump].

Recently, President Trump has backed down on his apathetic Trump Gaza comments stating he will only recommend his ‘buy Gaza’ deal from the sidelines and not force it.

The first phase of the ceasefire deal ended on 1 March 2025 with 30 Israeli prisoners released by Hamas in exchange for 30 to 50 Palestinians [50 if Hamas released females] for each released Israeli. The second phase of negotiations saw delay as both sides blamed each other for violating ceasefire terms.

The current attack has been backed by the US. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed President Trump’s backing of Israel’s actions after Hamas didn’t heed to Trump’s warning that ‘all hell would break loose’ if Hamas won’t release hostages. Leavitt added that all those who terrorise the US and its ally Israel [like Houthis, Hamas, Iran] would pay a price.

Just before the surprise attack on Hamas, the US had also launched attacks on Yemen's Houthis after the group attacked US military aircrafts at Red Sea in an attempt to open the Gaza blockade. Trump further warned that Iran will be held responsible for any attack launched by the Houthis, and any retaliation will be met with great force. 

While Houthis have stressed that they would continue to target Red Sea shipping until Israel lifts the Gaza blockade, the US has also continued its attack on the Houthis.

Photo: Palestinians fleeing from the northern Gaza Strip city of Beit Hanoun are seen on a road in Gaza City, on March 18, 2025. Israel carried out deadly bombardments across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing more than 400 people, as it vowed to intensify attacks if Hamas did not release the hostages still held in the enclave. After the deadly attacks, the Israeli army issued evacuation orders, prompting Palestinians to flee in chaos. Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, called on civilians to move west. A map he posted on social media platform X marked in red the entire perimeter around Gaza, designating it as a "dangerous combat zone." The targeted areas included the city of Beit Hanoun, the town of Khuza'a, and the Abasan suburbs of Khan Younis.