Gaza Ablaze: Ceasefire Collapses as March 2025 War Escalates

The Gaza-Israel war has reached its boiling point as it turned into a humanitarian and political crisis of extreme intensity. The January ceasefire has collapsed drastically, and there have been some of the deadliest attacks ever recorded in the war so far. Hundreds of civilians were killed in a matter of hours, and it is getting even worse with the

international condemnation mounting.

Collapse of Ceasefire and Renewal of Hostilities

On March 18, 2025, at approximately 2 a.m., Israel initiated a series of surprise attacks on the Gaza Strip, shattering the tenuous ceasefire. Over 400 Palestinians were killed, including at least 263 women and children, making it one of the deadliest days of the war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, defended the attack, saying that Israel had “returned to combat in full force” against Hamas. He warned that this was only the start of a new military campaign. The Israeli government asserted that the airstrikes were aimed at Hamas military assets, but reports from Gaza indicate that residential towers, hospitals, and refugee camps were also struck. The total destruction has contributed to the misery of the local population.

Ground Offensive and Territorial Gains

Following the aerial attacks, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) conducted a large-scale ground offensive of central and southern Gaza. The most notable occurrence was Israel’s takeover of the Netzarim Corridor, a strategic corridor that separates Gaza into northern and southern regions.

The IDF said they needed to occupy this corridor in order to impede the work of Hamas and expand security areas. Palestinian authorities and relief groups however, claim that the action was made to further cut off populations and limit civilian movement.

Witnesses described widespread devastation, with streets filled with debris and families evacuating their homes. Thousands have been rendered homeless, some for the second or third time in a few months.

Assassination of Hamas Leadership

On 22 March 2025, an Israeli air raid killed Salah al-Bardaweel, a high-ranking Hamas political bureau member, and his wife. The IDF celebrated this as a great victory, as al-Bardaweel was said to have been preparing attacks on Israel.

Hamas threatened revenge, denouncing the assassination as a “dangerous escalation” that will bring nothing but more violence. Others speculate that only by killing senior officials are the hostilities fanned, not undermined, against Hamas.

Humanitarian Crisis and Forced Evictions

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has further worsened. Collective orders of evacuation were issued by the IDF, driving civilians out of their homes in settlements such as Beit Hanun, Abasan al-Kabira, Abasan al-Saghira, and Khuza’s. Human rights agencies condemned the acts as illegal according to international law.

Israel has also blocked the entry of humanitarian supplies, such as food, water, and medicine. Already struggling hospitals are near collapse.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has documented that Israel is restricting life-saving medical equipment, including ventilators and incubators, into Gaza. This has resulted in rising preventable deaths.

Physicians in Gaza are now conducting surgery without anaesthetics, hospitals have exhausted their stock of antibiotics, and electricity shortages have hindered the operation of life-saving machinery. A physician at Al-Shifa Hospital described the situation as “hell on earth,” stating that they are having to decide which patients to treat because of the shortage of supplies.

Regional Implications and International Response

The new conflict has had wider consequences beyond Gaza. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have stepped up their attacks against Israel in a display of solidarity with Hamas. In Lebanon, tensions are growing with Hezbollah vowing to up its military operations against Israel.

The reaction of the world has been varied. The European Union and the United Nations have denounced the attacks and urged a ceasefire immediately. The world powers continue to be divided, though. America still stands behind Israel, and President Joe Biden reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself while urging Netanyahu to save lives of civilians.

The protestors In major cities like London, Paris, Washington, and Berlin are demanding the end of the war and condemning Gaza for its deeds demanding a blockade in return. 

Political Consequences and Future Directions

The war has also had important political implications in Israel. Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened that Israel will annex more of Gaza’s land if Hamas does not free Israeli hostages. He stated that the IDF would “take more territories” and move even more civilians if Hamas does not agree to new terms of the ceasefire.

At the same time, Netanyahu, pushed by his right-wing political supporters, has stepped up military campaigns to stay in power. His hawkish approach is, according to some analysts, not only meant to undermine Hamas but also to gain the support of the United States.

His opponents state that more military intervention will increase future violence and not long-term stability.

The March 2025 events have documented one of the most tragic phases of the Gaza-Israel war. The breakdown of the ceasefire, heightened military operations, and continuously failing humanitarian situations have brought immeasurable misery. Thousands of civilians have been killed, hospitals are on the verge of collapse, and essential items such as food and water are getting scarce day by day.

Without any visible road to peace, the world is confronted with a difficult choice: how much longer is it going to suffer before acting?

By Kajal Bawa

(KPP News)