GAZA, Palestine — The Israeli military has launched what it describes as “extensive strikes” on the Gaza Strip, targeting what it claims are “terror targets” belonging to Hamas.
The Hamas-run health ministry reports that at least 300 Palestinians have been killed in the attacks, marking the largest wave of airstrikes since a ceasefire began on 19 January.
The strikes, which began in the early hours of Tuesday, March 18, 2025, targeted areas including Gaza City, Rafah, and Khan Younis. Witnesses reported that more than 20 Israeli warplanes flew over the region before bombing commenced.
Many residents were reportedly having their pre-dawn meal, known as Suhoor, in observance of the holy month of Ramadan, when the explosions began.
Among the casualties is Mahmoud Abu Wafah, the deputy interior minister in Gaza and the highest-ranking Hamas security official in the territory.
His death was confirmed following a strike on his location.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the strikes, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
The statement cited Hamas’s refusal to release Israeli hostages and its rejection of proposals presented by US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and other mediators as the reasons for the military action.
“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” the statement added.
The plan for the strikes was reportedly presented by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) over the weekend and approved by the political leadership.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, issued a stern warning to Hamas, stating, “We will show no mercy on our enemies.”
Hamas has responded with fury, accusing Israel of treachery for overturning the ceasefire agreement.
The group also warned that Israel’s actions are exposing the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza to “an unknown fate.”
However, Hamas has not yet declared a resumption of the war, instead calling on mediators and the United Nations to intervene.
The US administration under President Donald Trump was consulted by Israel prior to the strikes, a White House spokesperson told Fox News.
Negotiators have been attempting to find a way forward after the first phase of the temporary truce ended on 1 March.
The US had proposed extending the ceasefire until mid-April, including a further exchange of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
However, a Palestinian official familiar with the talks told the BBC that Israel and Hamas disagreed over key aspects of the deal proposed by Witkoff during indirect negotiations.
The latest conflict between Israel and Hamas began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages.
The attack triggered a massive Israeli military offensive that has since killed more than 48,520 people, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, which are used by the UN and other international bodies.
The ongoing war has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.1 million population multiple times. An estimated 70% of buildings in the territory have been damaged or destroyed, while healthcare, water, and sanitation systems have collapsed. Severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis.
As the strikes continue, the international community is calling for an immediate de-escalation and a return to negotiations. The situation remains volatile, with fears of further civilian casualties and widespread destruction.
The Israeli government has reiterated its commitment to dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities, while Hamas has vowed to resist what it describes as Israeli aggression.
