Israel’s surprise deadly airstrikes shatter Gaza ceasefire, killing over 400 in “night of hell”
By isabelle // 2025-03-18
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  • Israel launched deadly airstrikes in Gaza, killing over 400 Palestinians, including women and children, and breaking a fragile two-month ceasefire.
  • The attacks occurred during Ramadan, causing chaos in hospitals and sparking global condemnation.
  • Israel blamed Hamas for the ceasefire breakdown, while Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement and prioritizing politics over peace.
  • The international community, including the UN, called for an immediate halt to the violence, warning of a potential regional conflict.
  • The strikes have reignited fears of a broader war, with Gaza facing massive destruction and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Israel launched a series of deadly airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing more than 400 Palestinians, including women and children, and shattering a fragile two-month ceasefire. The surprise attacks, described by survivors as a “night of hell,” have drawn widespread condemnation and raised fears of an all-out war that could engulf the region. The strikes, which targeted dozens of Hamas sites, came during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a time traditionally marked by peace and reflection. Hospitals in Gaza reported scenes of chaos as bodies piled up in morgues and emergency rooms overflowed with the wounded. “People are sleeping peacefully, they set the alarm to wake up for suhoor, and they wake up to death,” said Fedaa Heriz, a displaced woman in Gaza, referring to the pre-dawn meal during Ramadan.

A ceasefire in name only

The ceasefire, which had been in place since January, was already fragile, with negotiations over hostage releases and a permanent truce repeatedly stalling. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the breakdown, accusing the militant group of refusing to release hostages and rejecting ceasefire proposals. However, Hamas officials countered that Israel’s actions amounted to a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire agreement and accused Netanyahu of prioritizing political survival over peace. The Israeli military claimed the strikes were aimed at Hamas targets, but the sheer scale of the bombardment—described as the deadliest since the ceasefire began—has left many questioning Israel’s true intentions and only adding further fuel to accusations of genocide.

Global outrage and calls for restraint

The international community has reacted with horror to the latest violence. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “shocked” by the airstrikes and called for an immediate halt to the fighting. “This nightmare must end immediately,” said U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk, who described the attacks as “horrifying.” Egypt, a key mediator in the conflict, condemned Israel’s actions as a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire deal and urged the international community to intervene. Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas expressed fear that the resumption of fighting would put their loved ones in additional peril. “Military pressure could further endanger their lives,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in a statement.

A region on the brink

The renewed violence has sparked fears of a broader regional conflict. Tensions have already flared in Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria, where Israeli strikes have targeted militant groups aligned with Hamas. In Gaza, the destruction is staggering: entire neighborhoods lie in ruins, hospitals are overwhelmed, and thousands of displaced families are once again on the move. For many Palestinians, the latest attacks are a grim reminder of the relentless cycle of violence that has defined their lives for decades. “We thought it was over, but war is back,” said Rabiha Jamal, a 65-year-old mother of five from Gaza City. “It feels like the first days of the war all over again.” As the death toll continues to rise, the prospects for peace seem more distant than ever. Israel’s insistence on military force as a solution has only deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, while Hamas’ refusal to release hostages has further complicated efforts to broker a lasting truce. As the international community grapples with how to respond, it is painfully clear that without a genuine commitment to peace from all sides, the suffering will only continue. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com APNews.com Reuters.com FoxNews.com
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