2025 Israel's Air Strikes on Gaza

Israel launched intense aerial attacks on the Gaza Strip on 17–18 March 2025. These attacks began immediately after peace talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar ended in failure. The Israeli government stated that the operation targeted Hamas’s military infrastructure, while authorities in Gaza reported that civilian residential areas, schools, and medical facilities had been struck.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) indicated that the operation aimed at tunnels, weapons depots, and military positions allegedly belonging to Hamas, while Gaza’s health authorities announced that the attacks had largely affected civilian areas and turned many settlements into rubble. It was reported that Gaza’s electricity and water infrastructure had suffered severe damage, with access to basic humanitarian services completely cut off in some regions.

Civilian Casualties and Humanitarian Crisis

The Gaza Ministry of Health announced that over 300 people were killed in the attacks, hundreds were injured, and many remain trapped under rubble awaiting rescue. UN officials stated that the attacks had pushed Gaza’s humanitarian situation to the brink of catastrophe, with hospitals exceeding capacity and essential medical supplies exhausted.

The targeting of buildings and hospitals, particularly those used as shelter, further intensified the humanitarian impact. With insufficient bed available for the wounded, surgeries could not be performed due to water and electricity outages, and intensive care units were rendered inoperable. Palestinian authorities reported that thousands had been displaced by the attacks and that shelter options were now severely limited.

Breakdown of Ceasefire Talks

Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, failed to produce an agreement. The talks had expected Hamas to release some hostages in exchange for Israel halting its operations in Gaza and easing the blockade. However, no agreement was reached, and Israel promptly expanded its aerial attacks following the collapse of the talks.

Hamas officials accused Israel of using the attacks to collectively punish the Palestinian population, while the Israeli government maintained that the strikes aimed to degrade Hamas’s military capabilities.

International Reactions

Israel’s aerial attacks on Gaza triggered widespread international concern. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the rising civilian casualties and called on all parties to comply with international humanitarian law. The Europe Union and various human rights organizations argued that Israel’s disproportionate use of force violated international law, highlighting the devastating impact on civilians.

Condemnation from Türkiye

Türkiye condemned Israel’s attacks on civilian areas and called on the international community to increase its intervention in Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. The Arab Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) emphasized the urgent need to halt Israel’s attacks in Gaza and establish a lasting ceasefire.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting to address developments in Gaza, but no binding resolution has been adopted so far.

As approximately two million people in Gaza continue to live under blockade, the latest attacks have deepened the humanitarian crisis. Severe shortages of food, clean water, medicine, and electricity persist, and the UN warned that the extensive destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure could trigger a long humanitarian crisis.