Israeli bombs kill over 400 in Gaza, shattering two-month truce with Hamas

Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday killed at least 400 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities, ending a two-month ceasefire with Hamas as Israel vowed to intensify military action to free its remaining hostages in the enclave.

The rubble of destroyed buildings in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from the Israeli side of the border near Sderot, Israel, 18 March 2025. The Israeli forces on 18 March confirmed they were carrying out 'extensive strikes' on targets in the Gaza Strip, following an Israeli prime minister's statement which ended the ceasefire in place since 19 Ja

EPA/ATEF SAFADI

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to respond “with strong action” against the Palestinian militant group, citing Hamas’s refusal to release hostages and rejection of new ceasefire proposals.

“Israel will now act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” his office declared.

Collapse of ceasefire deal

Hamas accused Israel of nullifying the truce reached in January, leaving the fate of 59 hostages in Gaza unresolved. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said many victims of the strikes were children.

Scenes in local hospitals revealed rows of bodies wrapped in white plastic, stained with blood, as casualties continued to arrive.

Israel bombed the tents of the displaced in Khan Yunis.
They are back to killing kids and families in tents again, after Trump sent 3 F-35 to Israel. pic.twitter.com/770CFP0XFg

— Bassem Youssef Commentary (@bassem_youssef9) March 18, 2025

In a statement, the Israeli military confirmed “dozens of targets” were struck, warning that attacks could escalate beyond airstrikes, raising fears of a renewed ground offensive.

Terrifying scenes out of Gaza, as Israel renews bombardment, targeting whatever remains of residential buildings. This is following two weeks of a complete siege on Gaza to starve Palestinians & drone strikes that have killed dozens, including several aid & media workers in… pic.twitter.com/tn16o4PofK

— Sana Saeed (@SanaSaeed) March 18, 2025

The United Nations’ Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Muhannad Hadi, urged the immediate reinstatement of the ceasefire, calling the situation “unconscionable.”

The Secretary-General @antonioguterres is shocked by the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, in which a meaningful number of civilians have been killed.

He strongly appeals for the ceasefire to be respected.

Full statement: https://t.co/1x03YvPUdy

— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) March 18, 2025

Trump administration consulted

A White House spokesperson said President Donald Trump’s administration was briefed by Israel prior to its latest assaults.

“As President Trump has made it clear – Hamas, the Houthis, Iran, all those who seek to terrorize not just Israel but also the United States of America will see a price to pay,” the official told Fox News.

U.S. bombs Yemen

Meanwhile, Washington said it launched a new round of airstrikes in Yemen on Saturday, reportedly killing dozens of Houthi fighters, who themselves claimed 53 fatalities. The Houthis, aligned with Iran, had conducted over 100 attacks targeting commercial shipping since November 2023, in what they described as an act of solidarity with Gaza.

The Israel-Hamas conflict, which flared after Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023—killing 1,200 people and seizing around 250 hostages, according to Israeli allies—has left more than 48,000 Palestinians dead in Gaza and most of its territory razed to the ground.

Israel denies allegations of war crimes and genocide. The conflict has displaced nearly the strip’s entire population of 2.3 million people.

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Source: Reuters, RMF24, PAP