Israel Resumes Military Operations in Gaza: Ceasefire Collapse Analysis and International Response

Introduction

On March 18, 2025, Israel launched extensive airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, effectively ending a two-month ceasefire with Hamas and resuming military operations in the region. This sudden resumption of hostilities has resulted in significant casualties, raised questions about the motives behind the decision, and prompted various international responses.

The Ceasefire Collapse and Initial Military Operations

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which had been in place since January 19, 2025, was abruptly shattered when Israeli warplanes began conducting widespread strikes across Gaza in the early hours of March 18.

What Israeli officials described as a “surprise offensive” targeted multiple Hamas positions and infrastructure throughout the region. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 404 Palestinians were killed and 562 wounded in these initial strikes.

The military operation began at approximately 2:20 a.m. local time during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Israeli warplanes targeted areas including Rafah, Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat, Al-Bureij, Al-Zaytoun, Al-Karama, Beit Hanoun, and Al-Mawasi.

An Israeli military official told Reuters that the attacks would continue indefinitely and would incorporate further military elements beyond airstrikes.

Netanyahu’s office issued a statement declaring that the decision to resume military operations came after Hamas repeatedly rejected ceasefire proposals presented by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and refused to release Israeli hostages still held in captivity. “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” the statement read.

Israel’s Stated Justifications

Israeli officials have provided several reasons for resuming military operations:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that military action would continue after Hamas allegedly refused hostage negotiations.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz delivered a stern warning: “If Hamas does not free all of the hostages, the gates of hell will open, and it will encounter the IDF in a force they have not yet known”.

According to Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, the decision to resume attacks in Gaza was made “several days ago” after Steve Witkoff “made two different proposals and Hamas rejected both of them”. Sa’ar emphasized: “We found ourselves at a dead end, with no hostages released and no military action. This is a situation that cannot continue”.

An Israeli official told The Times of Israel that Jerusalem has a concrete plan “to move forward” with its military campaign in Gaza, adding that “if at any point the other side decides to go back to genuinely negotiating, and we go back to genuine talks, then we’ll stop the offensive. At the moment, we’re left without any choice”.

Hamas’s Response

Hamas has characterized the Israeli offensive as a unilateral termination of the ceasefire agreement. In a public statement, the group remarked, “Netanyahu and his extremist administration are making a decision to annul the ceasefire agreement, leaving prisoners in Gaza facing an uncertain fate”.

According to Reuters, negotiators from both Israel and Hamas had been meeting in Doha, with mediators from Egypt and Qatar attempting to reconcile differences.

While Israel had been advocating for the return of the remaining 59 hostages in exchange for an extended truce, Hamas insisted on transitioning to discussions for a permanent resolution to the conflict and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, as outlined in the original ceasefire terms.

Pre-Strike Humanitarian Situation

Notably, Israel had already taken significant actions affecting the humanitarian situation in Gaza prior to the military strikes.

On March 2, 2025, shortly after the beginning of Ramadan, Israel shut down the entry of all humanitarian aid (including food and fuel) into the Gaza Strip.

A few days later, Israel cut off electricity to Gaza Strip’s main desalination plant, which provided drinking water for 500,000-600,000 Palestinians.

Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, told the UN Security Council that despite the devastation he witnessed during his February visit to Gaza, “my trip coincided with some of Gaza’s better days” because a ceasefire was in place and humanitarians were delivering hundreds of trucks every day. “Not anymore,” he reported.

International Reactions

The international response to Israel’s resumption of military operations has been varied:

United Nations

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting where Fletcher stated that “overnight, our worst fears materialized,” referring to unconfirmed reports of hundreds killed. He outlined three urgent requests, calling on the Council to enable the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial essentials into Gaza, renew the ceasefire, and fund the humanitarian response.

Palestinian Response

The Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine told the Security Council: “Ceasefire works — it is the only thing that does,” stressing that it stopped the bloodshed, allowed the release of hostages and prisoners, and enabled the delivery of humanitarian aid.

He suggested that “while the Trump Administration has prioritized the release of hostages, it is evident that Netanyahu’s concern for his political survival far outweighs his concern for the survival of the hostages”.

Various Countries’ Positions

Numerous countries called for an immediate return to ceasefire, including the UK, China, Republic of Korea, Denmark, and Sierra Leone.

Algeria characterized the blockade as “a calculated effort to break the resilience of the Palestinian people”. Pakistan’s representative stated: “Blocking trucks, cutting off electricity, mistreating non-governmental organizations, preventing Muslims from accessing the Aqsa Mosque compound — these are all tactics of the oppressor”.

France reaffirmed solidarity with Israel while highlighting an upcoming international conference to be held in June, chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, on the implementation of the two-state solution.

Former Hostages

According to The Associated Press, former hostages have expressed “horror” at the collapse of the ceasefire and urged the Israeli government to return to the negotiating table.

Israeli-American former hostage Keith Siegel told the news agency that his Hamas captors became violent after the first ceasefire collapsed in November 2023 and fighting resumed.

The Palestinian Relocation Controversy

Amid the renewed fighting, reports have emerged about potential plans to relocate Palestinians from Gaza.

According to the media, officials from the United States and Israel have contacted representatives from three East African nations—Sudan, Somalia, and the self-declared region of Somaliland—to explore the possibility of utilizing their lands as potential sites for relocating Palestinians displaced from Gaza.

This initiative is connected to President Donald Trump’s proposed post-conflict strategy, which suggests that more than 2 million Gaza residents would be permanently relocated.

In early February, Trump stated the United States would “take control of the Gaza Strip” and that its residents needed to be given another place where they “could be happy”.

What was once considered a fringe notion of Israel’s extreme nationalists has gained traction since Trump introduced it during a White House meeting, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to label it a “bold vision”.

Palestinians in Gaza have rejected the proposal and dismiss Israeli claims that departures would be voluntary.

Arab countries have strongly disagreed and proposed an alternative recovery plan that would leave Palestinians in place. Rights groups have warned that coercion or pressure on Palestinians could constitute a potential war crime.

Genocide Claims and Legal Implications

Several organizations have raised concerns about potential genocide in Gaza:

The International Court of Justice has provisionally ruled three times that Israel is engaging in genocidal acts in Gaza.

It has ordered that Israel must end its siege on Gaza, open the borders, and allow water, food, fuel, and other necessities to enter Gaza without hindrance, though Israel has reportedly ignored these rulings.

A UNHR report released in mid-May concluded: “Israel has committed genocidal acts, namely killing, seriously harming, and inflicting conditions of life”.

Similarly, Euro-Med Monitor called for the international community to “act quickly and decisively to guarantee accountability and justice for the crime of genocide in the Gaza Strip”.

Political Dimensions of the Decision

The resumption of military operations in Gaza has significant political implications within Israel:

According to CNN, the far-right in Israel never liked the Gaza ceasefire, viewing it as a capitulation to Hamas. They advocate for all Palestinians to leave Gaza and for Israel to reestablish the settlements it evacuated in 2005.

Netanyahu relies on support from the far-right faction to maintain his government coalition.

Notably, far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had quit the government in protest of the ceasefire, while another, Bezalel Smotrich, had threatened to leave if Israel didn’t return to war.

Following the resumption of strikes, Ben-Gvir’s party—Jewish Power—announced it would rejoin the government, which CNN describes as “a huge political victory for Netanyahu and the stability of his coalition”.

Additionally, Netanyahu was scheduled to testify in his corruption trial on March 18, but the legal proceedings were postponed as a result of the attacks.

Conclusion

The resumption of Israeli military operations in Gaza represents a significant escalation after two months of relative calm.

While Israel justifies its actions by citing Hamas’s refusal to release hostages and engage in meaningful negotiations, critics point to humanitarian concerns, political motivations, and the timing of the decision during Ramadan.

The international community’s divided response reflects the complex nature of the conflict, with many nations calling for an immediate return to ceasefire while others continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself.

The controversy surrounding potential plans to relocate Palestinians to African countries adds another dimension to an already multifaceted crisis.

As the situation continues to evolve, the fate of remaining hostages, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the prospects for long-term peace in the region remain uncertain.

What is clear is that the collapse of this ceasefire represents yet another chapter in the ongoing conflict, with severe consequences for civilians caught in the crossfire.