Israel carries out deadly airstrikes across Gaza since ceasefire, over 200 killed

Israel early on Tuesday carried out a series of airstrikes on what it said were Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. 

A post on X from the Israeli military said it is "conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip."

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In accordance with the political echelon, the IDF and ISA are currently conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/mYZ1WBPVPG

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 18, 2025 >

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office expressed frustration that Hamas has refused to release hostages it took as part of the October 7, 2023 terror attacks on Israel. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization not only by Israel, but also the US, Germany and several other countries.   

Israel and Hamas have been at war since the the October 7 attacks, but had entered into a ceasefire on January 19. After finishing a first round of the ceasefire where Hamas released Israeli hostages in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners, the two sides were supposed to enter a second phase of the truce.  

A senior Hamas official told Reuters news agency that Israel is unilaterally ending the ceasefire agreement, with the group accusing Israel of resuming "aggression" against Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

US news outlet Axios reported that Israel informed US President Donald Trump's administration ahead of the attacks.  

Gaza death toll rises to at least 200

Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry has said that the Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 200 people. 

The toll was provided by Health Ministry spokesperson Khalil Degran.

Although Israel has criticized figures provided by Gaza's Health Ministry, international institutions such as the UN believe them to be broadly reliable.