A paramedic and mourners carry the body of a Palestinian killed in an Israeli airstrike at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on March 17, 2025, according to medics. REUTERS
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza early Tuesday left at least 200 people dead, according to Palestinian health officials. The attacks hit several areas, including Gaza City, Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, and Rafah. Many of the victims were children, health authorities said.
The Israeli military said it struck dozens of Hamas targets and warned that the attacks would continue. They also suggested that ground troops could soon be involved. The strikes came after weeks of failed talks to extend the ceasefire that ended in January.
In Gaza’s hospitals, overwhelmed by 15 months of war, scenes were heartbreaking. Medical staff struggled to handle the number of dead and wounded. Many bodies were wrapped in bloodied white sheets and stacked in hallways. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported dealing with 86 dead and 134 injured, while many others were rushed to hospitals in private vehicles.
Medical facilities, including Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, and Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City, said they received around 85 bodies. Authorities confirmed that 16 members of one family were killed in Rafah.
Hamas blamed Israel for breaking the ceasefire deal. The group said the lives of 59 hostages held in Gaza were now at risk. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office accused Hamas of rejecting efforts to release the remaining hostages. "Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength," Netanyahu’s office said.
The White House confirmed that Israel had consulted with the U.S. before carrying out the airstrikes. According to U.S. officials, the attacks targeted mid-level Hamas leaders and key infrastructure. White House spokesperson Brian Hughes said, "Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war."
In Rafah, southern Gaza, Israeli tanks shelled residential areas, forcing families to flee toward Khan Younis. Many had just returned to their homes after the ceasefire began.
Negotiations between Hamas and Israel had been ongoing in Doha, with mediation from Egypt and Qatar. The initial truce, which started on January 19, led to the release of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel, backed by the U.S., had pushed for a longer truce in exchange for the remaining 59 hostages, hoping to maintain calm through Ramadan and Passover.
However, Hamas insisted on a permanent ceasefire and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Both sides accused each other of violating the January truce.
The latest strikes have left Gaza in deeper ruins. Much of the region has been destroyed by the ongoing conflict, which started in October 2023 when Hamas gunmen attacked Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's military campaign in response has killed over 48,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials, and reduced Gaza's infrastructure to rubble.
